Politely discussing a disappointing restaurant dish | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a restaurant, a customer politely tells a server that a fish dish is dry and asks for a light sauce..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Politely discussing a disappointing restaurant dish to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

すみません、魚についてお聞きしてもよろしいですか。少し乾いています。

soo-mee-mah-SEN, sah-kah-NAH nee tsue-ee-teh oh-kee-kee-shee-teh-moh yoh-roh-SHEE dess-kah. soh-SHEE kah-wah-ee-teh ee-MAHSS. Excuse me, could I ask about the fish? It is a bit dry.
B

申し訳ありません。厨房に確認します。

mooshee-WAH-keh ah-ree-mah-SEN. CHOO-boh nee KAH-koo-neen shee-MAHSS. I'm sorry about that. I'll check with the kitchen.
A

味はいいですが、食感が思っていたものと違います。

AH-jee wah EE-dess-gah, SHOK-kahn gah oh-MOHT-teh ee-tah moh-noh toh chee-gah-ee-MAHSS. The flavor is nice, but the texture is not what I expected.
B

少しソースを別にいただけると、助かるかもしれません。

soh-SHEE SOH-soo oh BEH-tsoo nee ee-tah-dah-keh-roo-toh, tah-soo-kah-roo kah-moh-shee-reh-mah-SEN. A little sauce on the side might help.
B

お持ちしましょうか。

oh-moh-chee shee-mah-SHOH-kah. Would you like me to bring some?
A

あまり重くないソースなら、助かります。

ah-MAH-ree oh-MOH-koo nah-ee SOH-soo nah-rah, tah-soo-kah-ree-MAHSS. That would help, as long as it is not too heavy.
B

小皿に入れたソースをお持ちして、厨房にも伝えます。

koh-ZAH-rah nee ee-reh-tah SOH-soo oh oh-moh-chee shee-teh, CHOO-boh nee-moh tsoo-tah-eh-MAHSS. I can bring a small dish of sauce and let the kitchen know.
A

もっと食べる前に、お伝えしておこうと思いました。

MOHT-toh tah-beh-roo MAH-eh nee, oh-tsoo-tah-eh shee-teh oh-KOH-toh oh-moh-ee-MAHSH-tah. I wanted to mention it before I ate more of it.
B

ソースを試してもまだ乾いていたら、教えてください。

SOH-soo oh tah-meh-shee-teh-moh mah-DAH kah-wah-ee-teh ee-tah-rah, oh-SHEH-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Please tell me if it is still dry after you try the sauce.
B

別の方法を考えます。

BEH-tsoo noh HOH-hoh oh kahn-gah-eh-MAHSS. We can find another solution.

Word by Word

すみません すみません is the polite “excuse me” used to get the server’s attention before raising a concern. It is useful at the start of a request or question to staff.
魚 魚 refers to the fish dish being discussed. In this dialogue it is the topic after 魚について, and it can identify a dish or ingredient in a restaurant conversation.
について について as a whole means “about” or “concerning.” In 魚について, に links 魚 to ついて, while ついて gives the sense of being related to that topic. A useful reuse pattern is a noun followed by について when introducing what you want to ask or discuss.
お聞き お聞き in お聞きしてもよろしいですか means to ask or inquire politely. It is used here before the permission pattern to make the customer’s question respectful. This wording is useful when asking staff for information.
して して in お聞きしてもよろしいですか is the connective form that links the asking action to the permission pattern. Together with もよろしいですか, it helps form a polite request for permission. It is useful when connecting an action to a following expression.
も も in お聞きしてもよろしいですか contributes the idea of “even” within a polite permission pattern. The whole expression asks whether asking is acceptable rather than demanding an answer. A useful reuse pattern is a て-form followed by もよろしいですか.
よろしい よろしい in よろしいですか means acceptable or all right. With も and the question marker, it asks whether the proposed action is permitted. This expression is useful when making a particularly polite request.
です です gives よろしいですか a polite sentence ending. Here it helps turn the question about acceptability into a respectful question for the server. It is commonly used in polite questions and statements.
か か at the end of よろしいですか marks the sentence as a question. It allows the speaker to ask for permission politely. It is useful at the end of many direct questions.
少し 少し means “a little” in 少し乾いています. It limits the degree of dryness and makes the complaint sound measured rather than absolute. It is useful before a description when giving a mild evaluation.
乾いて 乾いて in 乾いています expresses that the fish is dry. Its て-form connects with います to describe the fish’s continuing or resulting state. A useful reuse pattern is a て-form followed by います for an ongoing state.
います います in 乾いています functions as the polite auxiliary that presents dryness as a current state. Together, 乾いています means that it is dry now. This pattern is useful when describing a continuing condition politely.
申し訳ありません 申し訳ありません as a whole is a formal apology meaning “I am sorry.” Within the expression, 申し訳 refers to an excuse or justification, and ありません supplies the polite negative wording, together conveying that there is no excuse. It is useful when staff apologize seriously for a problem.
厨房 厨房 means the kitchen area or kitchen staff in this restaurant context. In 厨房に確認します, it identifies who will be contacted about the dish. It is useful when referring to the kitchen in a restaurant or food-service setting.
に に in 厨房に確認します marks the kitchen as the party or place the server will check with. It connects the destination of the checking action to 確認します. A useful reuse pattern is a person or department followed by に確認する.
確認 確認 means checking or confirming in 厨房に確認します. With します, it describes the server checking the situation with the kitchen. It is useful when verifying information with a person, team, or department.
します します in 確認します is the polite form used to express doing the checking. It makes the promise to check sound courteous. A useful reuse pattern is a noun such as 確認 followed by します.
味 味 means the flavor or taste of the dish. In 味はいいですが, it is set as the topic before the speaker contrasts it with the texture. It is useful when evaluating food separately from its texture or appearance.
は は in 味はいいですが marks 味 as the topic of the first part of the contrast. It presents the flavor as one aspect before が introduces the less positive point. A useful reuse pattern is a topic followed by は and its evaluation.
いい いい means good or nice in 味はいいです. Here it gives a positive evaluation of the flavor even though the speaker has a concern about the texture. It is useful for expressing a favorable assessment of food or another feature.
が が in 味はいいですが connects the positive statement about the flavor to a contrasting statement about the texture. In this sentence it has the meaning “but.” A useful reuse pattern is a polite clause followed by が before a different or less favorable point.
食感 食感 means the texture or mouthfeel of food. In 食感が思っていたものと違います, it is the aspect that differs from what the customer expected. It is useful when describing how food feels while eating it.
思って 思って in 思っていたもの expresses what the speaker had in mind or expected. Its て-form connects with いた to describe an earlier continuing expectation. The phrase 思っていたもの is useful for referring to what someone expected.
いた いた in 思っていた shows that the thinking or expectation existed before the current statement. Together with 思って, it describes what the speaker had expected. A useful reuse pattern is a verb in て-form followed by いた when referring to a past continuing state.
もの もの in 思っていたもの stands for the thing or result the speaker had expected. It lets the earlier expectation function as the reference for comparison. This use is helpful when referring to a specific expected thing without naming it again.
と と in ものと違います marks the expected thing as the reference for comparison. The whole phrase says that the texture differs from what was expected. A useful reuse pattern is a comparison reference followed by と違う.
違い 違い in 違います expresses that the texture is different from the expected result. It is the verb portion that states the difference, while ものと supplies the comparison reference. This wording is useful when politely explaining that something does not match an expectation.
ます ます in 違います is the polite ending of the statement. It makes the customer’s comment about the difference courteous and suitable for speaking to restaurant staff. It is commonly used at the end of polite verb statements.
ソース ソース means sauce. In the dialogue it refers to the additional sauce the customer may receive separately and try with the fish. It is useful for identifying a condiment or topping in a restaurant.
を を in ソースを別にいただける marks ソース as the item the customer would receive. It links the object to the receiving expression. A useful reuse pattern is a thing followed by を before the action involving it.
別に 別に in ソースを別にいただける means separately or on the side. It specifies that the sauce should not already be on the fish. This wording is useful when requesting a condiment or component separately.
いただける いただける in ソースを別にいただける means being able to receive something politely. In this sentence, the customer presents receiving the sauce as a possible condition for being helped. A useful reuse point is placing the requested item before いただける when making an indirect request.
助かる 助かる in 助かるかもしれません means that something would help the speaker. Here, receiving separate sauce is presented as a possible way to improve the situation. A useful reuse pattern is an action followed by と助かる when saying that it would be helpful.
かもしれません かもしれません as a whole makes the statement tentative, meaning “might” or “may.” In the expression, かも presents a possibility and しれません completes the polite possibility wording. Here it softens the suggestion that the sauce might help, which is useful when making a cautious suggestion.
お持ち お持ち in お持ちしましょうか and お持ちして is respectful wording for bringing something to the customer. It suits the server’s role and makes the offer courteous. It is useful when staff offer to bring an item to a guest.
しましょう しましょう in お持ちしましょうか is the polite volitional form of する. With the question marker, it offers to perform the action, meaning “shall I bring it?” This pattern is useful when politely offering to do something for another person.
あまり あまり in あまり重くない means “not very” or “not too much” because it is used with the negative form ない. It limits the degree of heaviness the customer will accept. A useful reuse pattern is あまり followed by a negative description.
重く 重く in 重くない is the form of 重い used before the negative ない. In this dialogue it describes a sauce that is not too heavy. A useful reuse pattern is an adjective ending in く followed by ない to make a negative description.
ない ない in 重くない supplies the negative meaning “not.” It changes 重く into “not heavy,” describing the condition the customer wants for the sauce. This pattern is useful for negating an adjective before a noun or condition.
なら なら in 重くないソースなら sets a condition: if the sauce is not heavy, it would be acceptable. It introduces the requirement before the result 助かります. A useful reuse pattern is a condition followed by なら when stating what would work.
助かります 助かります means “that would help” or “I would appreciate it” in this polite reply. In 重くないソースなら、助かります, it expresses appreciation subject to the sauce meeting the stated condition. This pattern is useful for politely accepting an offer with a qualification.
小皿 小皿 means a small dish. In 小皿に入れたソース, it identifies the container in which the server will bring the sauce. It is useful when specifying a small serving dish or separate condiment dish.
入れた 入れた in 小皿に入れたソース means put or placed in. It describes the sauce as having been placed in the small dish and modifies ソース. A useful reuse pattern is a container followed by に入れた and the item being described.
伝え 伝え in 伝えます expresses telling or informing someone. In 厨房にも伝えます, the server will also inform the kitchen about the situation. A useful reuse pattern is the person or department followed by に伝える.
もっと もっと means “more” in もっと食べる前に. It indicates that the speaker could have continued eating more of the dish. It is useful before an action when referring to an increased amount or degree.
食べる 食べる means “eat” in もっと食べる前に. Here it appears before 前に to mark the action that had not yet continued. A useful reuse pattern is a verb in its plain form followed by 前に for “before doing.”
前 前 in 食べる前に means “before.” It places the act of telling the server earlier than eating more. The pattern verb + 前に is useful when describing an action that should happen first.
お伝え お伝え in お伝えしておこう is polite wording for telling or mentioning something. Here the customer politely reports the problem to the server before eating more. It is useful when courteously communicating information or a concern.
おこう おこう in お伝えしておこう expresses the intention to do something in advance. In お伝えしておこうと思いました, the speaker decided to mention the issue before continuing to eat. A useful reuse pattern is a て-form followed by おこう when deciding to take care of something beforehand.
思い 思い in 思いました expresses thinking or intending. In お伝えしておこうと思いました, it reports the speaker’s earlier decision to mention the problem. A useful reuse pattern is an intention or statement followed by と思いました when politely reporting a past thought.
ました ました in 思いました is the polite past ending. It shows that the speaker had that thought or intention earlier. It is useful for politely describing a completed past thought or action.
試して 試して in 試しても means to try or test. Here it refers to trying the sauce before judging whether the dryness has improved. A useful reuse point is placing the item before を and then using 試して when describing an attempt to evaluate it.
まだ まだ in まだ乾いていたら means “still.” It shows that the fish may remain dry even after the sauce is tried. This word is useful when checking whether a condition continues.
いたら いたら in 乾いていたら makes the state conditional: if the fish is still dry. It combines the state expressed by 乾いていた with ら to introduce the condition for telling the server. A useful reuse pattern is a state followed by いたら when discussing what to do if it continues.
教えて 教えて in 教えてください means tell me or let me know. The server asks the customer to report the result after trying the sauce. A useful reuse pattern is a て-form followed by 教えてください when requesting information politely.
ください ください in 教えてください makes the request polite, meaning “please.” It asks the customer to perform the preceding action of letting the server know. A useful reuse pattern is a て-form followed by ください for polite requests.
別 別 in 別の方法 means another or different. It distinguishes the possible solution from the sauce already being offered. A useful reuse pattern is 別の followed by a noun when referring to an alternative.
の の in 別の方法 links 別 to 方法 and makes the first word describe the second. Together, 別の方法 means “another method” or “another solution.” This linking pattern is useful when one noun or description modifies another noun.
方法 方法 means a method or way of dealing with something. In 別の方法を考えます, it refers to another solution for the dish problem. It is useful when discussing possible approaches to a situation.
考え 考え in 考えます expresses thinking of or considering something. In 別の方法を考えます, the server promises to consider another solution. A useful reuse pattern is an idea or method followed by を考えます.

Grammar Points

〜てもよろしいですか

お聞きしてもよろしいですか

oh-kee-kee-shee-teh-moh yoh-roh-SHEE dess-kah

May I ask?

A polite way to ask permission. The verb uses the て-form before もよろしいですか.

〜ましょうか

お持ちしましょうか

oh-moh-chee shee-mah-SHOH-kah

Shall I bring it?

A polite offer to do something for someone. お持ちする is a humble form of 'to bring'.

Japanese Vocabulary

お聞きする verb
oh-kee-kee SOO-roo to ask; to inquire お聞きして
すみません intj
soo-mee-mah-SEN excuse me; sorry
よろしい adj
yoh-roh-SHEE acceptable; fine
確認する verb
KAH-koo-neen SOO-roo to check; to confirm 確認します
乾く verb
kah-WAH-koo to be dry; to dry 乾いています
魚 noun
sah-kah-NAH fish
思う verb
oh-MOH-oo to think; to feel 思っていた
少し adv
soh-SHEE a little
食感 noun
SHOK-kahn texture; mouthfeel
申し訳ありません phrase
mooshee-WAH-keh ah-ree-mah-SEN I am very sorry
厨房 noun
CHOO-boh kitchen
味 noun
AH-jee flavor; taste

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

acceptable; fine

Show Answerよろしい

excuse me; sorry

Show Answerすみません

I am very sorry

Show Answer申し訳ありません

to ask; to inquire

Show Answerお聞きして