予約する

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese verb 予約する (yoyaku suru) is essential for anyone living in or traveling to Japan. It means 'to reserve' or 'to book'. Think about all the times you need to reserve something in your daily life: a table at a restaurant, a hotel room, a train ticket, an appointment with a doctor, or even a rental car. In all these situations, 予約する is the verb you'll use.

DEFINITION

To reserve; to book.

This verb is formed by the noun 予約 (yoyaku), meaning 'reservation' or 'booking', and the verb する (suru), meaning 'to do'. This is a very common pattern in Japanese, where a noun followed by する creates a verb. This makes it a really practical word to learn because once you understand this pattern, you can apply it to many other Japanese words.

You'll often hear 予約する in various settings. For example, if you're trying to get a table at a popular restaurant, the staff might ask you, 予約していますか？ (Yoyaku shite imasu ka?), meaning 'Do you have a reservation?' Or if you're planning a trip, you might say, ホテルを予約しました (Hotelu o yoyaku shimashita), which means 'I booked a hotel.'

Let's look at some examples to see how 予約する is used in common situations.

• Restaurant o yoyaku suru no wa kantan desu.

• It's easy to reserve a restaurant.

• Tsugi no furaito o yoyaku shimashita.

• I booked the next flight.

• Itsu biyouin o yoyaku dekimasu ka?

• When can I book a hair salon appointment?

You can also use 予約する to talk about reserving tickets for events, like concerts or movies. It's a versatile verb that applies to almost anything you need to book or reserve in advance.

• Eiga no chiketto o yoyaku shitai desu.

• I want to book movie tickets.

Understanding when and how to use 予約する will significantly improve your ability to navigate daily life in Japan and interact with Japanese speakers. It's one of those practical verbs that you'll use constantly, so make sure to get comfortable with it.

This lesson is all about the Japanese verb 予約する (yoyaku suru), which means "to reserve" or "to book." It's a really useful verb to know, especially if you're planning on doing things like eating out, staying in hotels, or even getting your hair cut in Japan. We'll cover how to use it in different situations.

§ The Basics of 予約する

予約する is a する (suru) verb, which means it's a noun followed by する. This makes it pretty flexible. You can use 予約 (yoyaku) as a noun meaning "reservation," and then add する to make it a verb.

Japanese Word

予約する (yoyaku suru)

Meaning

To reserve; to book

CEFR Level

A2

§ How to Use 予約する in Sentences

When you use 予約する, you'll often use the particle を (o) to mark the thing you are reserving. However, sometimes you'll see a direct connection without a particle if it's a compound noun. Let's look at some examples.

§ Reserving a Table at a Restaurant (レストランを予約する)

Resutoran o yoyaku shimashita.
I reserved a restaurant.

Kon'ya, resutoran o yoyaku shimashou.
Let's reserve a restaurant tonight.

§ Booking a Hotel Room (ホテルを予約する)

Hoteru o yoyaku shitai desu.
I want to reserve a hotel.

Kanojo ga hoteru o yoyaku shimashita.
She booked a hotel.

§ Making an Appointment (予約を取る)

While 予約する means "to reserve," you might also hear 予約を取る (yoyaku o toru) for making an appointment, especially with doctors or for services. The meaning is very similar.

Haisha no yoyaku o torimashita.
I made an appointment at the dentist.

§ Using 予約 as a Noun

Remember that 予約 (yoyaku) itself means "reservation." You can use it in sentences like this:

Yoyaku wa arimasu ka?
Do you have a reservation?

Watashi no yoyaku wa Tanaka desu.
My reservation is under Tanaka.

§ Common Phrases with 予約

Here are some common phrases you'll hear or use when dealing with reservations:

• 予約する (yoyaku suru): To make a reservation
• 予約済み (yoyaku zumi): Reserved (e.g., a reserved seat)
• 予約席 (yoyaku seki): Reserved seat
• 予約時間 (yoyaku jikan): Reservation time
• 予約なし (yoyaku nashi): No reservation

§ Conjugations of 予約する

Since 予約する is a する verb, its conjugations follow the pattern of する.

Present Affirmative

予約する (yoyaku suru) - To reserve

Present Negative

予約しない (yoyaku shinai) - Not to reserve

Past Affirmative

予約した (yoyaku shita) - Reserved

Past Negative

予約しなかった (yoyaku shinakatta) - Did not reserve

Polite Present Affirmative

予約します (yoyaku shimasu) - To reserve

Polite Present Negative

予約しません (yoyaku shimasen) - Not to reserve

Polite Past Affirmative

予約しました (yoyaku shimashita) - Reserved

Polite Past Negative

予約しませんでした (yoyaku shimasen deshita) - Did not reserve

Learning to use 予約する correctly will make your life in Japan much easier. Practice these examples and try to form your own sentences!

§ Don't Confuse 予約する with 注文する

Many learners mix up 予約する (yoyaku suru) and 注文する (chūmon suru). While both involve making arrangements, they are used in different contexts. 予約する is for reserving a service or a spot, like a restaurant table, a hotel room, or a concert ticket. 注文する is for ordering a product or food that will be delivered or prepared for you immediately or in the near future.

DEFINITION

予約する (yoyaku suru): To reserve; to book (a service, a spot, a time).

DEFINITION

注文する (chūmon suru): To order (a product, food, an item).

Think of it this way: if you're securing something for future use or to hold your place, you use 予約する. If you're requesting something to be made or sent to you, you use 注文する.

§ Using the Particle を Correctly

When using 予約する, the direct object particle を (o) is used to indicate what is being reserved. It's common to forget this or use the wrong particle, especially if you're still getting comfortable with Japanese particles.

• Correct:

  ホテルを予約する。 (Hotēru o yoyaku suru.)
  Hint: Book a hotel.

• Incorrect (common mistake):

  ホテルに予約する (Hotēru ni yoyaku suru)

While に (ni) can indicate a location or a destination, for direct objects of transitive verbs like 予約する, を is essential. You are reserving 'the hotel' (direct object), not 'reserving to the hotel.'

§ Politeness Levels with 予約する

Like many Japanese verbs, 予約する can be adjusted for politeness. It's a plain form verb, and in casual conversations, you might hear it as 予約する or 予約した (yoyaku shita - past tense). However, in more polite situations, especially when speaking to staff at a restaurant, hotel, or office, you should use the ます (masu) form.

• Casual:

  明日のフライトを予約する。 (Ashita no furaito o yoyaku suru.)
  Hint: I'll book tomorrow's flight.

• Polite:

  明日のフライトを予約します。 (Ashita no furaito o yoyaku shimasu.)
  Hint: I will book tomorrow's flight (polite).

• More formal/humble (when you are the one reserving for someone else, or referring to your own action humbly):

  明日のフライトを予約いたしました。 (Ashita no furaito o yoyaku itashimashita.)
  Hint: I have booked tomorrow's flight (very polite/humble).

§ Don't Forget the Noun Form 予約

The verb 予約する comes from the noun 予約 (yoyaku), meaning 'a reservation' or 'a booking.' Sometimes learners try to use 予約 directly where the verb form is needed, or vice-versa.

Here, 予約 is a noun. If you wanted to say 'I will make a reservation at the hotel,' you would use the verb form: ホテルを予約します (Hotēru o yoyaku shimasu).