Ordering a Lunch Set | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At home, two adults choose a lunch set, decide between main options and sides, and place an order..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Ordering a Lunch Set to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

私たちのランチセットを注文したいです。

wah-tah-shee-TAH-chee noh RAHN-chee SEHT-toh oh choh-MOHN shee-TAH dehss I want to order a lunch set for us.
B

鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか。

toh-ree-NEE-koo toh sah-kah-NAH noh doh-chee-RAH gah EE dehss kah Would you prefer chicken or fish?
A

今日は魚のほうがよさそうです。

KYOH wah sah-kah-NAH noh HOH gah yoh-sah-SOH dehss Fish sounds better to me today.
B

ご飯と小さなおかずが一つ付きます。

goh-HAHN toh chee-SAH-nah oh-kah-ZOO gah hee-TOHT-soo tsoo-kee-MAHSS It comes with rice and one small side.
A

どのおかずが一番よさそうですか。

doh noh oh-kah-ZOO gah ee-chee-BAHN yoh-sah-SOH dehss kah Which side looks best?
B

野菜は新鮮で、シンプルな感じです。

yah-SAI wah sheen-SEHN deh SHEEM-poo-roo nah KAHN-jee dehss The vegetables look fresh and simple.
A

野菜を選びましょう。

yah-SAI oh eh-rah-bee-mah-SHOH Let's choose the vegetables.
B

今、注文できます。

ee-MAH choh-MOHN deh-kee-MAHSS I can place the order now.

Word by Word

私たち 私たち means “we” or “us,” referring here to the speaker and the other person together. In 私たちのランチセット, it identifies whose lunch set is being ordered. A reusable pattern is 私たちの＋noun for something belonging to or intended for the group.
の の links 私たち to ランチセット and shows that the lunch set is for or associated with the group. In 私たちのランチセット, it connects the possessor or related group to the noun that follows. A reusable pattern is person or group＋の＋noun.
ランチセット ランチセット means “lunch set,” the meal being ordered in this dialogue. It is the item described by 私たちの and marked by を in ランチセットを注文したいです. This word can be used when selecting or ordering a set meal.
を を marks ランチセット as the item affected by the ordering action in ランチセットを注文したいです. It comes after the object and before the action expression. A reusable word order is item＋を＋action.
注文 注文 names the act of placing an order; here it is used in 注文したいです to say that the speaker wants to order the lunch set. It follows the item in ランチセットを注文したいです. A reusable pattern is item＋を注文したいです for politely expressing a wish to order something.
したい したい expresses the speaker’s desire to carry out the action in 注文したいです, meaning “want to order.” Here it follows 注文 and focuses on the speaker’s intention. A reusable pattern is an action expression＋したいです when politely saying that you want to do something.
です です gives the statement 注文したいです a polite sentence ending. Here it makes the speaker’s wish to order suitable for a polite conversation. It can be used at the end of a polite statement.
鶏肉 鶏肉 means “chicken meat,” one of the two main choices in 鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか. It is connected to 魚 by と as the first option in the choice. This word is useful when selecting chicken as a food option.
と と connects the two alternatives 鶏肉 and 魚 in 鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか. Here it means “and” while listing the choices being compared. A reusable pattern is option Aとoption B when presenting two items together.
魚 魚 means “fish.” In 鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか, it is the second choice, and in 今日は魚のほうがよさそうです it is the option the speaker prefers today. This word can be used when choosing fish as a meal or side option.
どちら どちら means “which of the two” in 鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか. It asks the listener to choose between the two options already mentioned. A reusable pattern is AとBのどちらがいいですか for asking which of two choices is preferred.
が が marks どちら as the option being evaluated in どちらがいいですか. The question asks which one is preferable, rather than simply naming the choices. A reusable pattern is どちらがいいですか when asking someone to choose between two options.
いい いい means “good” or “preferable” in どちらがいいですか. Here it asks which choice the listener considers better, and the same idea appears in 魚のほうがよさそうです. It is commonly used after a choice when asking which option is preferred.
か か marks 鶏肉と魚のどちらがいいですか as a question. It turns the preceding statement into a polite request for the listener’s choice. It is used at the end of a polite question.
今日 今日 means “today.” In 今日は魚のほうがよさそうです, it sets today as the time or topic for the speaker’s preference. A reusable pattern is 今日＋は＋comment when talking about what applies today.
は は marks 今日 as the topic in 今日は魚のほうがよさそうです. The sentence therefore presents the speaker’s preference specifically for today. A reusable pattern is time or topic＋は＋comment.
ほう ほう refers to the option or side being selected in 魚のほうがよさそうです. Together with 魚の, it highlights fish as the preferable choice compared with the other option. A reusable pattern is option＋のほうが＋evaluation when saying one option seems better.
よさそう よさそう means “seems good” or “looks like the better choice” in 魚のほうがよさそうです. It expresses an impression or judgment about the option, rather than a firm factual description. It can be reused after an option when giving a tentative preference based on how it seems.
ご飯 ご飯 means “rice” in ご飯と小さなおかずが一つ付きます. It is one of the items included with the lunch set. This word can be used when naming rice as part of a meal.
小さな 小さな means “small” and directly describes おかず in 小さなおかず. It gives the size of the side dish that comes with the set. A reusable pattern is 小さな＋noun for describing a small thing.
おかず おかず means “side dish” in 小さなおかず. In this dialogue, it is the additional food served with ご飯 and the main meal. This word can be used when referring to a side dish accompanying rice or another main item.
付きます 付きます means “comes with” or “is included” in ご飯と小さなおかずが一つ付きます. It explains that rice and one small side are provided as part of the lunch set. A reusable pattern is itemが付きます when saying that an item is included with something.
どの どの means “which” and comes directly before the noun being selected in どのおかずが一番よさそうですか. Here it asks the listener to identify one side dish from several possibilities. A reusable pattern is どの＋noun when asking which item.
一番 一番 means “the most” or “best” in どのおかずが一番よさそうですか. It asks which side dish seems best among the available choices. It can be placed before an evaluation when identifying the top choice.
野菜 野菜 means “vegetables.” In 野菜は新鮮で、シンプルな感じです, it identifies the side dish being described, and in 野菜を選びましょう it is the side dish chosen. This word can be used when selecting or describing vegetables as food.
新鮮 新鮮 means “fresh” in 新鮮で、シンプルな感じです. The form 新鮮で links the description “fresh” to the following description of the vegetables. A reusable pattern is a description＋で＋another description when giving connected descriptions.
で で links 新鮮 to the next description in 新鮮で、シンプルな感じです. Here it allows the vegetables to be described as fresh and also as having a simple feel. A reusable pattern is adjective or description＋で＋another description.
シンプル シンプル means “simple” in シンプルな感じです. It describes the impression of the vegetables through the larger expression シンプルな感じ. A reusable pattern is シンプルな＋noun when describing something as simple.
な な links シンプル to the noun 感じ in シンプルな感じです. It allows “simple” to describe the impression being discussed. A reusable pattern is descriptive word＋な＋noun in expressions such as シンプルな感じ.
感じ 感じ means “feeling” or “impression” in シンプルな感じです. The expression says that the vegetables give a fresh, simple impression, rather than simply naming a fixed quality. A reusable pattern is adjective＋な感じ when describing how something seems or feels.
選びましょう 選びましょう means “let’s choose” in 野菜を選びましょう. It is a polite suggestion for the speaker and listener to make the choice together. A reusable pattern is itemを選びましょう when suggesting that the group choose an item.
今 今 means “now” in 今、注文できます. It sets the time at which the ordering can be done. A reusable pattern is 今＋action when saying that something can happen at this moment.
できます できます means “can do” or “is possible” in 注文できます, so the speaker says that the order can be placed now. Together with 注文, it expresses the availability or ability to place the order. A reusable pattern is action＋できます when saying that an action is possible.

Grammar Points

Aのほうがよさそうです

魚のほうがよさそうです。

sah-kah-NAH noh HOH gah yoh-sah-SOH dehss

Fish seems better.

ほうが compares options and means that one seems preferable or better.

Nが付きます

小さなおかずが一つ付きます。

chee-SAH-nah oh-kah-ZOO gah hee-TOHT-soo tsoo-kee-MAHSS

One small side dish is included.

付きます means something comes with or is included in a meal or set.

Japanese Vocabulary

おかず noun
oh-kah-ZOO side dish
ご飯 noun
goh-HAHN rice; meal
どちら pron
doh-chee-RAH which one; either one
ほうが phrase
HOH gah rather; more
よさそうです phrase
yoh-sah-SOH dehss seems better; looks good
ランチセット noun
RAHN-chee SEHT-toh lunch set
魚 noun
sah-kah-NAH fish
鶏肉 noun
toh-ree-NEE-koo chicken
今日は adv
KYOH wah today
私たち pron
wah-tah-shee-TAH-chee we; us
小さな adj
chee-SAH-nah small
注文したいです phrase
choh-MOHN shee-TAH dehss want to order

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

lunch set

Show Answerランチセット

seems better; looks good

Show Answerよさそうです

want to order

Show Answer注文したいです

small

Show Answer小さな