Staff often use extra-polite expressions when welcoming, guiding or serving a customer.
The idea
なさいます is an honorific form of します for the customer’s action. お預かりします describes the staff member taking care of something; くださいませ is a courteous request.
| Service expression | Plain equivalent |
|---|---|
| なさいます | します |
| お預かりします | 預かります |
| くださいませ | ください |
Examples
- いらっしゃいませ。ご注文はお決まりですか。Welcome. Have you decided what to order?
- こちらへどうぞ。お席にご案内します。This way, please. I will show you to your seat.
- お飲み物はいかがなさいますか。What would you like to drink?
- こちらのお荷物をお預かりします。I will look after this luggage for you.
- 少々、お待ちくださいませ。Please wait a moment.
- お会計はあちらでお願いいたします。Please pay over there.
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Watch out
Do not use なさいます for your own action. A customer can usually answer in ordinary polite speech; copying every service formula is unnecessary.
Try it yourself
「お飲み物は、いかが＿か。」（なさいます／いたします）
Show answer or example answer
なさいます
なさいます refers respectfully to what the customer will do.
「お荷物をお預かり＿。」（します／なさいます）
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します
お預かりします describes the staff member’s own action, so します fits.
「少々お待ち＿。」（くださいませ／いらっしゃいませ）
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くださいませ
くださいませ politely asks the customer to wait; いらっしゃいませ welcomes them.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「お飲み物は、いかが＿か。」（なさいます／いたします）
「お荷物をお預かり＿。」（します／なさいます）
「少々お待ち＿。」（くださいませ／いらっしゃいませ）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Imagine checking in at a hotel: identify who acts in each phrase, then choose the appropriate service expression.