How to Say ‘How many people?’ in Japanese
何名様ですか
なんめいさまですか
💬 Usage Tip: A way to ask the number of people politely by adding [様] (さま, sama).
🇯🇵 In Japan: [様] is an honorific suffix that adds respect when addressing customers.
Phrase Breakdown
何名なんめい
how many people
Asking for the number of people.
何名で予約しますか？
How many people are the reservation for?
様さま
honorific for people
A polite way to refer to people.
お客様が来られます。
Guests are coming.
ですかですか
is it?
Indicates a question.
これでいいですか？
Is this okay?
Word-by-Word Breakdown
何なん
[nan]
What
A question word used to ask about the identity or nature of something.
『何』をしていますか？
What are you doing?
名めい
[mei]
Person
A counter used for people.
その『名』は有名です。
That name is famous.
様さま
[sama]
Mr./Mrs.
An honorific suffix used to address or refer to someone respectfully.
『様』は来られましたか？
Has the honored guest arrived?
ですです
[desu]
Is/Am/Are
A copula used at the end of sentences for polite expressions.
私たち『です』。
It's us.
かか
[ka]
Question Marker
A sentence-ending particle that indicates a question.
お元気『ですか』？
How are you?
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