Japanese · Daily Life
予約
yoyaku
Reservation / Appointment
Intermediatenoun
Definition
An arrangement in advance to use a service or meet someone. Reservations are extremely common in Japan for restaurants, hotels, and medical appointments.
Example
レストランの予約をしていますか？
Do you have a restaurant reservation?
Etymology
'予約' (yoyaku) consists of '予' (yo, 'before') and '約' (yaku, 'promise'), historically signifying a pre-arrangement or promise made in advance.
How & Where It’s Used
'予約' (yoyaku) is used in formal settings, especially in medical contexts for appointments, and is commonly found both in spoken and written forms.