Planning a Group Dinner | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: Before a group dinner, two friends compare food preferences and plan to send a quick poll before booking a restaurant..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Planning a Group Dinner to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

土曜日にみんなで行くレストランを選ぶ必要があります。

doh-YOH-bee nee MEEN-nah deh EE-koo reh-soo-TOH-rahn oh eh-RAH-boo hee-TSOO-yoh gah ah-ree-MAHSS. We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.
B

それなら、予約をする前に、みんなの食べ物の好みを確認したほうがいいですね。

soh-reh NAH-rah, yoh-YAH-koo oh soo-ROO mah-eh nee, MEEN-nah noh tah-beh-MOH-noh noh koh-NOH-mee oh kah-koo-NEEN shee-tah hoh-gah EE dehss neh. Then we should check everyone's food preferences before making a reservation.
A

寿司が食べたい人もいますが、温かい料理のほうが好きな人もいます。

soo-SHEE gah tah-beh-TAH-ee HEE-toh moh ee-MAHSS gah, ah-tah-tah-KAH-ee RYOH-ree noh hoh-gah SOO-kee nah HEE-toh moh ee-MAHSS. Some people want sushi, but others prefer a hot meal.
B

いろいろな料理がある店なら、もっと柔軟に対応できます。

ee-roh-ROH-nah RYOH-ree gah ah-ROO mee-SEH nah-rah, MOHT-toh joo-NAHN nee tie-OH deh-kee-MAHSS. A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.
A

ベジタリアン向けの料理と大きなテーブルがある、気軽なレストランを見つけました。

beh-jee-TAH-ree-ahn MOO-keh noh RYOH-ree toh OH-kee-nah TAY-boo-roo gah ah-ROO, kee-GAH-rah-nah reh-soo-TOH-rahn oh mee-TSOO-keh-MAHSS. I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.
B

それなら、好みが分かれるグループには、より無難な選択ですね。

soh-reh NAH-rah, koh-NOH-mee gah wah-kah-REH-roo GOO-roo-poo nee wah, yoh-ree moo-NAHN-nah sehn-SAH-koo dehss neh. That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.
A

予約する前にみんなに聞いたほうがいいですか。それとも、今決めますか。

yoh-YAH-koo soo-ROO mah-eh nee MEEN-nah nee KEE-tah hoh-gah EE dehss kah. Soh-reh-toh-MOH, EE-mah kee-MEH-mahss kah. Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?
B

二つの選択肢を出して、早めに返事をもらいましょう。

foo-TAHT-soo noh sehn-TAH-koo-shee oh dah-SHEE-teh, hah-yah-MEH-nee hehn-JEE oh moh-rah-ee-mah-SHOH. Give them two options and ask for a quick response.
A

今夜決められるように、短いアンケートを送ります。

KOHN-yah kee-meh-RAH-reh-roo YOO-nee, mee-JAH-kah-ee ahn-keh-TOH oh oh-koo-REE-mahss. I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.
B

それなら、たくさんの人に意見を聞かなくても、計画を進められそうです。

soh-reh NAH-rah, tah-koo-SAHN noh HEE-toh nee ee-KEHN oh kee-kah-nah-koo-teh-moh, KAY-kah-koo oh soo-soo-meh-RAH-reh-SOH dehss. That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for opinions.

Word by Word

土曜日 Here, 土曜日 means Saturday, the day on which the group will go to the restaurant. It is commonly used with a time expression such as 土曜日に. You would use it when arranging plans for that day.
に In 土曜日に, に marks Saturday as the time when the action will happen. It commonly follows a specific time or date, as in 土曜日に会います. Use it when stating when an event takes place.
みんな Here, みんな means everyone in the group. In みんなで, it refers to all the people acting together. You would use it in an informal conversation when referring to all members of a group.
で In みんなで, で shows that the people do the action together. The reusable pattern is みんなで行く, meaning to go together as a group. Use it when describing an activity shared by several people.
行く Here, 行く means go as part of the phrase みんなで行くレストラン, a restaurant the group will go to. A common pattern is 場所に行く, with に marking the destination. You would use it when talking about going somewhere.
レストラン Here, レストラン means restaurant, specifically the place the group needs to choose. It can be used with a description before it, such as みんなで行くレストラン. Use it when discussing where to eat.
を を marks レストラン as the thing being chosen in レストランを選ぶ. It commonly follows the direct object of an action. Use it before a verb when identifying what someone chooses, eats, or sends.
選ぶ Here, 選ぶ means choose the restaurant from possible places. The reusable pattern is レストランを選ぶ, with を marking what is chosen. You would use it when making a choice among alternatives.
必要 Here, 必要 expresses the need to choose a restaurant in 選ぶ必要があります. The pattern 〜必要があります states that an action is necessary. Use it when explaining that something must be done.
が In 必要があります, が marks 必要 as the subject of the existence expression. Together, 選ぶ必要があります means that there is a need to choose. You would use が in similar expressions such as 時間が必要です.
あります Here, あります completes 選ぶ必要があります and expresses that the need exists, giving the meaning that choosing is necessary. This polite form is used with a need or other non-living thing. A common pattern is 〜があります, meaning that there is or exists something.
それなら Here, それなら means then or in that case, responding to the need to choose a restaurant. It introduces a suggestion that follows from what was just said. You would use it when drawing a practical conclusion from another person’s comment.
予約 Here, 予約 means a reservation in the phrase 予約をする. It commonly combines with する to mean make a reservation. Use it when arranging a table, room, appointment, or other booking.
する Here, する means make or carry out a reservation in 予約をする. The pattern noun＋をする is used with actions such as making a reservation. You would use it when describing the act of booking something.
前 In 予約をする前に, 前 means before and places the reservation later in time. The pattern verb phrase＋前に means before doing something. Use it when giving an action that must happen first.
の In 予約をする前, の links the action 予約をする to 前 and makes it mean before making a reservation. It connects a noun-like phrase to another noun. You would use it in time expressions such as 出発の前.
食べ物 Here, 食べ物 means food, as part of the phrase 食べ物の好み. It refers to what people eat rather than to one particular dish. Use it when discussing food generally.
好み Here, 好み means preference, specifically each person’s food preference in 食べ物の好み. It commonly appears with a topic such as 食べ物の好み. You would use it when comparing what different people like.
確認 Here, 確認 means checking or confirming everyone’s preferences. In 確認したほうがいい, it names the action being recommended. A common pattern is 情報を確認する, meaning check information.
した Here, した is part of the exact recommendation 確認したほうがいい, so the suggested action is checking the preferences. It presents 確認 as the action under consideration in this construction. You would reuse the pattern 〜したほうがいい when advising that an action is better to do.
ほうがいい The whole expression 確認したほうがいい means it would be better to check the preferences, or should check them. In this construction, ほう presents one course of action as preferable, が links it to いい, and いい expresses that it is better. Use the reusable pattern 〜したほうがいい when giving practical advice.
です Here, です gives the statement a polite ending in ほうがいいですね. It presents the recommendation politely rather than changing the recommendation itself. You would use it at the end of many polite statements.
ね Here, ね in ですね seeks agreement or presents the recommendation as something the speaker expects the listener to accept. It softens the statement and invites a shared response. Use it when checking or encouraging agreement in conversation.
寿司 Here, 寿司 means sushi, one of the foods that some people want to eat. It can be used as the object in 寿司が食べたい. You would use it when talking about sushi as a meal or food choice.
食べたい Here, 食べたい means want to eat, specifically want to eat sushi in 寿司が食べたい. It expresses the speaker’s or another person’s desire for an action. A common pattern is 食べたいもの, meaning something someone wants to eat.
人 Here, 人 means people in 寿司が食べたい人, referring to people who want to eat sushi. It follows a description to identify people with that characteristic. You would use it in patterns such as 日本語を話す人, a person who speaks Japanese.
も Here, も in 食べたい人もいます means also or some as well, adding one group of people to the discussion. It can mark an additional person or group. Use it when saying that another person or group shares or has a relevant characteristic.
います Here, います means there are, referring to people who want sushi. It is the existence form used for people in 食べたい人もいます. A common pattern is 〜人がいます, meaning there are people who are or do something.
温かい Here, 温かい describes the meal as warm or hot in 温かい料理. It directly modifies the noun 料理. You would use it when describing food served warm.
料理 Here, 料理 means a dish or prepared food in 温かい料理. It can be described by an adjective before it, such as 温かい料理. Use it when discussing a particular type of food or cooking.
好き Here, 好き means like or prefer in 温かい料理のほうが好きな人, describing people who like warm meals better. It is followed by な before the noun 人 in this phrase. You would use it to state a person’s preference, such as 料理が好きです.
な Here, な links 好き to the noun 人 in 好きな人, allowing the preference to describe the people. It is part of the noun-modifying form 好きな. Use this same pattern when a preference or quality comes directly before a noun.
いろいろな Here, いろいろな means various or different kinds of and describes the dishes available at the restaurant. It directly modifies 料理 in いろいろな料理. You would use it when referring to several kinds of things without listing them all.
ある Here, ある means there are or has, describing the dishes available in いろいろな料理がある店. It is used for the existence of things, not people. A common pattern is 料理がある店, a restaurant that has food or dishes.
店 Here, 店 means a shop or restaurant, specifically the place that has various dishes. Its meaning is clarified by the surrounding restaurant-planning context. You would use it when referring to a place that sells something or provides a service.
なら Here, なら means if it is or in the case of, introducing the condition in いろいろな料理がある店なら. It connects the restaurant’s features with the conclusion that follows. Use it when making a suggestion or judgment based on a stated condition.
もっと Here, もっと means more, indicating a greater degree of flexibility. It modifies 柔軟 in もっと柔軟に対応できます. You would use it when comparing a situation with its current or previous degree.
柔軟 Here, 柔軟 means flexible, describing the ability to accommodate different food preferences. In 柔軟に対応できます, it modifies the way the group can respond. Use it when a plan or response can adapt to different needs.
対応 Here, 対応 means accommodating or handling the group’s different preferences in 対応できます. It commonly combines with する or できる to describe dealing with a situation. You would use it when explaining how someone or something responds to different needs.
できます Here, できます means can accommodate or can handle in 柔軟に対応できます. It expresses ability rather than simply stating that something exists. A common pattern is 〜に対応できます, meaning can respond to or accommodate something.
ベジタリアン Here, ベジタリアン means vegetarian and identifies the people the restaurant options are suitable for. It appears in ベジタリアン向け, meaning intended for vegetarians. You would use it when discussing vegetarian people, food, or services.
向け Here, 向け means intended for in ベジタリアン向けの料理. It marks the people or group that something is designed to suit. A common pattern is 子ども向けの本, a book intended for children.
と Here, と connects ベジタリアン向けの料理 and 大きなテーブル, meaning and. It links two items in the restaurant description. Use it when listing nouns together.
大きな Here, 大きな means big or large and describes the tables in 大きなテーブル. It appears directly before the noun it describes. You would use it when describing the size of an object.
テーブル Here, テーブル means table, specifically large tables suitable for the group. It is described by 大きな in 大きなテーブル. Use it when discussing seating or furniture in a restaurant.
気軽な Here, 気軽な means casual or easygoing, describing a restaurant that feels uncomplicated to use. It directly modifies レストラン in 気軽なレストラン. You would use it for a relaxed choice or an activity that does not feel demanding.
見つけました Here, 見つけました means found, referring to the restaurant that the speaker located. It reports the result politely in the past. A common pattern is 場所を見つけました, meaning found a place.
分かれる Here, 分かれる means differ or be divided in 好みが分かれるグループ, where the group members have different preferences. It describes the preferences separating rather than the group physically splitting. You would use it when opinions or choices vary among people.
グループ Here, グループ means group, referring to the people who will eat together. In 好みが分かれるグループ, it is described as a group with differing preferences. Use it when talking about several people considered together.
は In グループには, は marks the group as the topic or context for the safer choice. It appears together with に to focus on what is suitable for that group. You would use は to set a person, group, or thing as the topic of a statement.
より Here, より marks the comparison in より無難な選択, meaning a safer or more uncontroversial choice than another option. It commonly comes before the quality being compared. Use it when expressing a higher degree in a comparison.
無難な Here, 無難な means safe or unlikely to cause disagreement, describing the restaurant choice for people with different preferences. It directly modifies 選択 in 無難な選択. You would use it when choosing an option that is broadly acceptable.
選択 Here, 選択 means choice or selection, referring to the restaurant chosen for the mixed group. It appears in 無難な選択, where the choice is described as safe. Use it when discussing a decision among alternatives.
聞いた Here, 聞いた means asked in 聞いたほうがいい, referring to asking the group before booking. It is part of a recommendation about whether to ask them. A common pattern is 人に聞いたほうがいい, meaning it would be better to ask someone.
か Here, か marks the question in 聞いたほうがいいですか, asking whether the speaker should ask the group. It turns the polite statement into a question. Use it at the end of a polite question when asking for information or advice.
それとも Here, それとも means or else and introduces the alternative to asking the group. It connects the two choices in 聞いたほうがいいですか。それとも、今決めますか。 Use it when presenting an alternative question or decision.
今 Here, 今 means now, referring to deciding immediately instead of asking first. It is used with 決めます in 今決めます. You would use it when talking about the present moment or an action done immediately.
決めます Here, 決めます means decide or choose, referring to deciding on the restaurant. It is the polite form used in 今決めます. A common pattern is 場所を決めます, meaning decide on a place.
選択肢 Here, 選択肢 means option, referring to the possible restaurant choices offered to the group. The phrase 二つの選択肢 means two options. You would use it when presenting alternatives for someone to choose from.
出して Here, 出して means present or give in 選択肢を出して, referring to putting two options before the group. It connects this action to the following request. A common pattern is 選択肢を出す, meaning present options.
早め Here, 早め means early or promptly in 早めに返事, asking for a reply without much delay. The form 早めに modifies the timing of the reply. You would use it when requesting action a little earlier than usual.
返事 Here, 返事 means reply or response, specifically the group’s answer to the options. It appears in 返事をもらいましょう, meaning let’s get a response. Use it when waiting for or requesting an answer from someone.
もらいましょう Here, もらいましょう means let’s get or receive, referring to obtaining the group’s replies. In 返事をもらいましょう, 返事 is what is received and the form suggests a shared action. You would use it when proposing that people obtain something from someone.
今夜 Here, 今夜 means tonight, the time by which the group hopes to decide. It commonly appears with an action such as 今夜決める. You would use it when arranging or describing something happening this evening.
決められる Here, 決められる means can decide in 今夜決められるように, expressing the ability to reach a decision by tonight. It is used with ように to state the desired result. You would use it when talking about whether a decision can be made.
ように The whole phrase 決められるように means so that the group can decide, expressing the purpose of sending the poll. In this construction, よう presents the intended result and に links that result to the action 送ります. Use the pattern 〜できるように when doing something so that an ability or result becomes possible.
短い Here, 短い means short and describes the poll as brief. It directly modifies アンケート in 短いアンケート. You would use it when describing something with little length or duration.
アンケート Here, アンケート means poll or questionnaire, the short survey sent to collect the group’s preferences. It appears as the object of 送ります. Use it when asking several people for information or opinions through a set of questions.
送ります Here, 送ります means will send, referring to sending the poll to the group. It is the polite form used for the planned action. A common pattern is 人にメッセージを送ります, meaning send a message to someone.
たくさん Here, たくさん means many or a lot, referring to a large number of people whose opinions might otherwise be requested. It commonly appears before a noun with の, as in たくさんの人. You would use it when describing a large quantity or number.
聞かなくても The whole expression たくさんの人に意見を聞かなくても means even without asking many people for their opinions. In this construction, 聞かなくて presents the action as not being done and も adds the meaning even without that action. Use the pattern 〜なくてもいい when saying that an action is not necessary, while the surrounding sentence determines the exact meaning.
計画 Here, 計画 means plan, referring to the group-dinner arrangement. It is the thing that can keep moving forward in 計画を進められそうです. You would use it when discussing an organized course of action.
進められそう Here, 進められそう means seems able to move forward, referring to continuing the dinner plan. It combines the idea of advancing the plan with an appearance of possibility. A new example is この作業なら明日までに進められそうです。

Grammar Points

Vたほうがいい

早めに返事を聞いたほうがいい。

hah-yah-MEH-nee hehn-JEE oh KEE-tah hoh-gah EE.

It would be better to ask for a reply early.

「〜たほうがいい」は、相手に何かをするよう勧める表現です。

Vられそう

計画を進められそうです。

KAY-kah-koo oh soo-soo-meh-RAH-reh-SOH dehss.

It seems possible to move the plan forward.

「〜られる」は可能を表し、「〜そう」は実現する可能性がありそうだという意味です。

Japanese Vocabulary

いろいろな adj
ee-roh-ROH-nah various; assorted
みんな pron
MEEN-nah everyone; everybody みんなで
温かい adj
ah-tah-tah-KAH-ee warm; hot
確認する verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-ROO to check; to confirm 確認した
好み noun
koh-NOH-mee preference; taste
柔軟 adj
joo-NAHN flexible 柔軟に
食べる verb
tah-BEH-roo to eat 食べたい
選ぶ verb
eh-RAH-boo to choose
対応する verb
tie-OH soo-ROO to accommodate; to respond 対応できます
必要 adj
hee-TSOO-YOH necessary 必要が
予約 noun
yoh-YAH-koo reservation
料理 noun
RYOH-ree dish; cuisine

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check; to confirm

Show Answer確認した

everyone; everybody

Show Answerみんなで

to eat

Show Answer食べたい

to accommodate; to respond

Show Answer対応できます