Japanese word of the day: 予約 (Yoyaku)

What does 予約 (Yoyaku) mean?

予約 (Yoyaku) (noun) — Reservation, appointment, booking, or advance order. It refers to the act of arranging or securing something in advance, such as a hotel room, a table at a restaurant, or a service like a haircut at a beauty salon.

Kanji details for 予 and 約

Character: 予 — beforehand, previous, myself, I
Radical: hook 亅

Character: 約 — promise, approximately, shrink
Radical: silk 糸 (糹)

Example sentences with 予約 (Yoyaku)

• ホテルの予約はすでに完了しました。
  (Hoteru no yoyaku wa sude ni kanryō shimashita.)
  🏨 The hotel reservation is already complete.

• レストランの予約は何時にしますか？
  (Resutoran no yoyaku wa nanji ni shimasu ka)
  🍽️ At what time do you make a reservation at the restaurant?

• コンサートのチケットの予約はオンラインでできます。
  (Konsāto no chiketto no yoyaku wa onrain de dekimasu.)
  🎟️ You can reserve concert tickets online.

予約 and also be used as a verb 予約する (to reserve) Our conjugation tables can help you conjugate this verb.

予約 (Yoyaku) in context

You can use 予約 (Yoyaku) when making reservations for restaurants, hotels, flights, or events like concerts and theater performances. For example, if you're scheduling a medical appointment or booking a service like a haircut, 予約 is the go-to term. It’s also used for pre-ordering products, such as limited-edition items or tickets.

However, it’s important to avoid using 予約 (Yoyaku) in situations where no formal arrangement is needed—for instance, casually visiting a café without reserving a table or attending an event that doesn’t require advance booking. In such cases, using the term might sound overly formal or unnecessary. Additionally, be mindful of cultural nuances; some establishments might not take reservations, so it’s better to confirm first before assuming you need to use 予約.