How to order a beer in Japanese

The pee break

It is time to go to the toilets. But where are they? Ask one of your friends with a smaller bladder than you or just ask a staff member by saying him:

Sumimasen, otearai wa doko desu ka ?
すみません、お手洗いはどこですか？
すみません、おてあらいはどこですか？

I am unable to guess what he will answer. If your level of Japanese do not allow you to understand the directions, just look at the hands of the person who informs you. They will tend to point the place you are looking for.

You are in the toilets now? Make your small business, and do not forget to wash your hands! I hate people who do not wash their hands…

Reorder the same thing

You are now prepared to drink again! Bring the glass to the bartender and tell him simply:

Onaji kudasai
同じください。
おなじください。

If the person does not understand is that he has forgotten what you ordered the first time. In this case, just repeat the sentence we saw in Module 2 “Order a beer in Japanese”.

Ask for the bill in Japanese

You think you’ve drunk enough for tonight? Or just want to go to another bar? It is time to ask for the bill (if you have not already paid):

Okaikei kudasai.
お会計ください。
おかいけいください。

Do not leave a tip, it is a Western custom that has not yet arrived in Japan. There is a good chance that the bar staff do not understand and you will lose time trying to explain to them what it is.

Go out of the bar like a real man with his paunch

By the time you have paid and recovered your small change, the bartender will thank you:

Arigatô gozaimashita.
ありがとうございました。

You can also thank you in Japanese, by repeating the same sentence. Otherwise you can congratulate his work by saying:

Gochisô sama deshita.
ご馳走さまでした。
ごちそうさまでした。

Now you can go out like a real badass, because you are above 50% of foreigners who do not even make the effort to speak three Japanese phrases. Congratulations!

I hope this little training will be useful in the field. Feel free to ask me your questions directly in the comments. I’d be happy to answer you. And if not, let me know when you go to Tokyo, maybe we can drink a “nama bîru” together.