Japanese dictionary
How to say "waiter" in Japanese
店員てんいん · ten'in
A "waiter" in Japanese is ウェイター (weitā), but people usually say 店員さん (ten'in-san). To call a server, say すみません.
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Ways to say "waiter" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 店員てんいん · ten'in | Server; staff (at a store or restaurant). |
| ウェイターうぇいたー · weitā | Waiter. |
| ホールスタッフほーるすたっふ · hōru sutaffu | Floor staff (restaurant). |
How to use it
Job listings for restaurant servers often say ホールスタッフ.
Many restaurants have a call button, 呼び出しボタン, on the table.
Example sentences
- すみません。Sumimasen.Excuse me! (calling a server)
- 店員さんに聞いてみます。Ten'in-san ni kiite mimasu.I'll ask the server.
- テーブルのボタンを押して呼んでください。Tēburu no botan o oshite yonde kudasai.Please press the button on the table to call staff.
- 学生のころ、レストランでウェイターをしていました。Gakusei no koro, resutoran de weitā o shite imashita.I worked as a waiter at a restaurant in college.
- ホールスタッフを募集しています。Hōru sutaffu o boshū shite imasu.We're hiring floor staff.
- 店員さんがとても親切でした。Ten'in-san ga totemo shinsetsu deshita.The server was very kind.
Kanji in this word
Questions
How do you call a server in a Japanese restaurant?
Say すみません (sumimasen) and raise your hand slightly, or press the call button on the table.
Do you tip servers in Japan?
No. Tipping is not customary in Japan.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.