Japanese - Appointments

Lesson 119 of 168

A friendly receptionist and a learner looking at a calendar in Japanese for an appointments lesson; bright colors, polite interaction, Japanese appointment phrases visible.

Goal: Polite phrases for arranging and checking details

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you manage appointments in polite Japanese. Practice hearing, repeating, and using useful questions so booking or calling feels easier.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice polite phrases for appointments — proposing times (「___で大丈夫ですか。」(___ de daijōbu desu ka.)), asking how long something takes, who the appointment is with, what to bring, and more. CEFR-aligned and practical: you'll hear the phrases, try a short conversation, and do quick quizzes to lock them in.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Understand and use polite appointment questions like 「___で大丈夫ですか。」(___ de daijōbu desu ka.) and 「どのくらい時間がかかりますか。」(Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.).
  • Ask about who the appointment is with and what to bring: 「予約はどなたとですか。」(Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka.) and 「何を持って行けばいいですか。」(Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.).
  • Practice A2-level everyday phone and email phrases for confirming, cancelling, and reminders.
A simple phone call scene at a clinic reception desk with Japanese appointment phrases on the screen; shows polite language for booking.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

___で大丈夫ですか。

___ de daijōbu desu ka.

Does ___ work for you?

Meaning: Does ___ work for you?

When to use: Put a candidate date, time, or place in the blank. Use で after the option to check if it’s acceptable.

Tip: Forgetting to add で after the time/place (e.g., saying just '午後2時大丈夫ですか' sounds a bit abrupt).

明日の午後２時で大丈夫ですか。

Ashita no gogo ni-ji de daijōbu desu ka.

Does tomorrow at 2 PM work for you?
駅の改札前で大丈夫ですか。

Eki no kaisatsu-mae de daijōbu desu ka.

Is the front of the station ticket gate okay?

どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will the appointment take?

Meaning: How long will the appointment take?

When to use: Use when you want to know the expected duration of an appointment, examination, or meeting.

診察はどのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Shinsatsu wa dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will the consultation take?
手続きはどのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Tetsuzuki wa dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will the procedure take?

予約はどなたとですか。

Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka.

Who is the appointment with?

Meaning: Who is the appointment with?

When to use: Use this polite question to ask which person, doctor, or staff member the appointment is for.

予約はどなたとですか。受付: 医師の田中先生です。

Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka. Uketsuke: Ishi no Tanaka-sensei desu.

Who is the appointment with? Reception: It's with Dr. Tanaka.
予約はどなたとですか。お名前を教えてください。

Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka. Onamae o oshiete kudasai.

Who is the appointment with? Please tell me the name.

何を持って行けばいいですか。

Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.

What should I bring?

Meaning: What should I bring?

When to use: Ask this to find out necessary items or documents for your appointment.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 持って来ればいいですか instead of 持って行けばいいですか; both are understood but 行けば emphasizes taking items to the appointment.

初めて来院します。何を持って行けばいいですか。

Hajimete rain de ver? Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.

This is my first visit. What should I bring?
保険証を忘れたかもしれません。何を持って行けばいいですか。

Hokenshō o wasureta kamoshiremasen. Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.

I may have forgotten my insurance card. What should I bring?

予約時間より早く行く必要がありますか。

Yoyaku jikan yori hayaku iku hitsuyō ga arimasu ka.

Do I need to arrive early?

Meaning: Do I need to arrive early?

When to use: Use to check whether you should arrive before the scheduled appointment time.

予約時間より早く行く必要がありますか。受付: いいえ、時間ちょうどで大丈夫です。

Yoyaku jikan yori hayaku iku hitsuyō ga arimasu ka. Uketsuke: Iie, jikan chōdo de daijōbu desu.

Do I need to arrive earlier than the appointment time? Reception: No, arriving on time is fine.
手続きのために予約時間より早く行く必要がありますか。

Tetsuzuki no tame ni yoyaku jikan yori hayaku iku hitsuyō ga arimasu ka.

For paperwork, do I need to arrive earlier than the appointment time?

キャンセル料はかかりますか。

Kyanseru-ryō wa kakarimasu ka.

Is there a cancellation fee?

Meaning: Is there a cancellation fee?

When to use: Ask this to find out whether cancelling will incur a charge.

急に行けなくなりました。キャンセル料はかかりますか。

Kyū ni ikenaku narimashita. Kyanseru-ryō wa kakarimasu ka.

I suddenly can't make it. Is there a cancellation fee?
予約を変更したいのですが、前日キャンセルだとキャンセル料はかかりますか。

Yoyaku o henkō shitai no desu ga, zenjitsu kyanseru da to kyanseru-ryō wa kakarimasu ka.

I want to change my appointment. If I cancel the day before, is there a cancellation fee?

キャンセル待ちに入れてもらえますか。

Kyanseru-machi ni irete moraemasu ka.

Can you put me on the waiting list?

Meaning: Can you put me on the waiting list?

When to use: Ask this when you want to be contacted if an earlier slot becomes available.

来週の予約は満席です。キャンセル待ちに入れてもらえますか。

Raishū no yoyaku wa manseki desu. Kyanseru-machi ni irete moraemasu ka.

Next week's appointments are full. Can you put me on the waiting list?
急に空きが出たら、キャンセル待ちに入れてもらえますか。

Kyū ni aki ga detara, kyanseru-machi ni irete moraemasu ka.

If an opening suddenly appears, can you add me to the waiting list?

予約のことで電話しました。

Yoyaku no koto de denwa shimashita.

I'm calling about my appointment.

Meaning: I'm calling about my appointment.

When to use: Use this phrase at the start of a phone call to state the reason for calling.

お電話ありがとうございます。予約のことで電話しました。

O-denwa arigatō gozaimasu. Yoyaku no koto de denwa shimashita.

Thank you for taking my call. I'm calling about my appointment.
失礼します、予約のことで電話しました。名前は佐藤です。

Shitsurei shimasu, yoyaku no koto de denwa shimashita. Namae wa Satō desu.

Excuse me, I'm calling about my appointment. My name is Satō.

リマインダーを送ってもらえますか。

Rimaindā o okutte moraemasu ka.

Could you send me a reminder?

Meaning: Could you send me a reminder?

When to use: Ask for an email or message reminder before your appointment.

Tip: Sometimes learners say 'reminder' in English; using リマインダー is natural in Japanese phone or email requests.

予約を取りました。リマインダーを送ってもらえますか。

Yoyaku o torimashita. Rimaindā o okutte moraemasu ka.

I've made a reservation. Could you send me a reminder?
前日にリマインダーを送ってもらえますか。助かります。

Zenjitsu ni rimaindā o okutte moraemasu ka. Tasukarimasu.

Could you send a reminder the day before? That would help.

少し遅れても大丈夫ですか。

Sukoshi okurete mo daijōbu desu ka.

Is it okay if I'm a little late?

Meaning: Is it okay if I'm a little late?

When to use: Use to check whether arriving slightly after the scheduled time is acceptable.

すみません、電車が遅れています。少し遅れても大丈夫ですか。

Sumimasen, densha ga okureteimasu. Sukoshi okurete mo daijōbu desu ka.

Sorry, the train is delayed. Is it okay if I'm a little late?
予約時間に間に合わないかもしれません。少し遅れても大丈夫ですか。

Yoyaku jikan ni maniawanai kamoshiremasen. Sukoshi okurete mo daijōbu desu ka.

I might not make the appointment time. Is it okay if I'm a little late?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna calls a clinic to confirm an appointment and asks about being a little late and what to bring.

Anna making a polite phone call about an appointment while David checks his calendar; scene shows confirmation and timing phrases in Japanese.

What is Anna asking about?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

お電話失礼します。予約のことで電話しました。来週の火曜日、午後３時で大丈夫ですか。

O-denwa shitsurei shimasu. Yoyaku no koto de denwa shimashita. Raishū no kayōbi, gogo san-ji de daijōbu desu ka.

Hello, I'm calling about my appointment. Is next Tuesday at 3 PM okay?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

はい、大丈夫です。予約はどなたとですか。

Hai, daijōbu desu. Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka.

Yes, that's fine. Who is the appointment with?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

田中とです。あと、少し遅れても大丈夫ですか。

Tanaka to desu. Ato, sukoshi okurete mo daijōbu desu ka.

It's with Tanaka. Also, is it okay if I'm a little late?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

問題ありません。何か持って来るものはありますか。

Mondai arimasen. Nani ka motte kuru mono wa arimasu ka.

No problem. Is there anything you should bring?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

保険証を持って行けばいいですか。

Hokenshō o motte ikeba ii desu ka.

Should I bring my insurance card?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

はい、保険証と身分証明書をお願いします。リマインダーも送ってもらえますか。

Hai, hokenshō to mibun shōmeisho o onegaishimasu. Rimaindā mo okutte moraemasu ka.

Yes, please bring your insurance card and ID. Could you also send a reminder?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks whether there's a cancellation fee?

Which phrase asks for the expected duration of an appointment?

Which phrase politely asks who the appointment is with?

Which phrase asks to be put on the waiting list?

Patient: If an earlier opening appears, can you put me on the waiting list?

患者: もし早い空きがあれば、___。

Reception: I'm calling about your appointment. Who is the appointment with?

受付: 予約のことでお伺いします。予約は___？

Patient: Sorry, the train is delayed. Is it okay if I'm a little late?

患者: すみません、電車が遅れています。___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

___で大丈夫ですか。

___ de daijōbu desu ka.

Does ___ work for you?

Say this phrase out loud:

どのくらい時間がかかりますか。

Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka.

How long will the appointment take?

Say this phrase out loud:

予約はどなたとですか。

Yoyaku wa donata to desu ka.

Who is the appointment with?

Say this phrase out loud:

何を持って行けばいいですか。

Nani o motte ikeba ii desu ka.

What should I bring?

Say this phrase out loud:

予約時間より早く行く必要がありますか。

Yoyaku jikan yori hayaku iku hitsuyō ga arimasu ka.

Do I need to arrive early?

Say this phrase out loud:

キャンセル料はかかりますか。

Kyanseru-ryō wa kakarimasu ka.

Is there a cancellation fee?

Say this phrase out loud:

キャンセル待ちに入れてもらえますか。

Kyanseru-machi ni irete moraemasu ka.

Can you put me on the waiting list?

Say this phrase out loud:

予約のことで電話しました。

Yoyaku no koto de denwa shimashita.

I'm calling about my appointment.

Say this phrase out loud:

リマインダーを送ってもらえますか。

Rimaindā o okutte moraemasu ka.

Could you send me a reminder?

Say this phrase out loud:

少し遅れても大丈夫ですか。

Sukoshi okurete mo daijōbu desu ka.

Is it okay if I'm a little late?