Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Restaurants

Paying the Bill and Splitting It

Goal of this lesson

Learn how to ask for the bill at a restaurant, check payment methods, and ask to pay separately or split the bill, so that you can pay on your own.

Explanation

When you finish eating, take the bill slip (伝票) from your table to the register and say "Okaikei onegaishimasu" (お会計お願いします, "The bill, please"). Some restaurants have no bill slip, some take payment at your seat, and some have you pay first at a meal ticket machine (食券機) at the entrance, so if you are not sure, ask the staff.

Accepted payment methods differ by restaurant. Some restaurants do not accept certain payment methods, so if you want to use a credit card or e-money, it is best to check the signs at the entrance or the register, or ask before you order.

Whether you can pay separately, one person at a time (別会計, betsu-kaikei), also depends on the restaurant. If you need to, tell the staff early and check. Paying together and then dividing the total by the number of people (割り勘, warikan) is also common.

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

お店で お金を 払う 方法です。

1. 伝票（でんぴょう）を 持って、レジへ 行きます。 2. 「お会計（かいけい） お願いします」と 言います。 3. 席で 払う店や、先に 食券（しょっけん）を 買う店も あります。

・店に よって 使えない 払い方も あります。カードを 使いたいときは、先に 確認します。 ・一人ずつ 払いたいときは、早めに 店員に 聞きます。 ・みんなの 合計を 人数で 分けることを「割り勘（わりかん）」と いいます。

Check quiz

Q1

What do you say to ask for the bill?

  1. Itadakimasu
  2. Irasshaimase
  3. Okawari kudasai
  4. Okaikei onegaishimasu
AnswerD. Okaikei onegaishimasu

Say "Okaikei onegaishimasu" at the register or to the staff.

Q2

What if you want to pay by card?

  1. No need to check, since all restaurants accept cards
  2. Look at the signs at the entrance or ask the staff in advance
  3. You must not ask the staff
  4. Assume cash cannot be used
AnswerB. Look at the signs at the entrance or ask the staff in advance

Accepted payment methods differ by restaurant, so it is best to check first.

Q3

What is betsu-kaikei?

  1. Each person paying separately
  2. One person paying for everyone
  3. Paying at a later date
  4. Each dish coming from a different restaurant
AnswerA. Each person paying separately

Whether it is possible depends on the restaurant.

Q4

What is warikan?

  1. The oldest person pays for everything
  2. Only the one person who ordered pays
  3. Dividing the total by the number of people and paying
  4. The restaurant giving a discount
AnswerC. Dividing the total by the number of people and paying

Often, people pay together and then divide it by the number of people.

Q5

What if you want to pay separately?

  1. Line up at the register one by one without saying anything
  2. Tell the staff early and check whether it is possible
  3. Tear the bill slip to split it
  4. Ask after the bill has been paid
AnswerB. Tell the staff early and check whether it is possible

Whether you can pay separately depends on the restaurant, so check early.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do menu prices include tax?

A. As of 2026, prices in shops and on menus are, as a rule, required to be shown including consumption tax. If you are not sure, ask the staff.

Q. Can a service charge be added to the bill?

A. Some restaurants charge a service fee or similar in addition to the price of the food. Check the menu or the restaurant's information.

Q. Do we split the bill down to the last yen?

A. There is no rule. Talk it over with the people you ate with and decide.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original