Key Facts
- Korean: 예약, Revised Romanization yeyak
- Part of speech: noun; verb form 예약하다
- Origin: Sino-Korean, 豫約 (豫 beforehand + 約 promise)
- Register: neutral; restaurants, hotels and tickets
- Senses: reservation, booking
Reservation in Korean: What Does 예약 Mean?
예약 means a reservation or booking. Its hanja literally mean "a promise made beforehand", always with a business or service.
How Do You Pronounce 예약?
예약 has two syllables, [ye-yak]. Both start with a y glide. When a vowel follows, the final ㄱ links over: 예약이 sounds like [ye-ya-gi].
Example Sentences with 예약
예약했어요.
Yeyakaesseoyo.
I made a reservation.
The phrase to say when you arrive. 했어요 is the past tense of 하다.
저녁 예약이 필요해요.
Jeonyeok yeyagi piryohaeyo.
I need a reservation for dinner.
저녁 예약 means "a dinner reservation", and 필요해요 means "is needed".
식당을 예약하고 싶어요.
Sikdangeul yeyakago sipeoyo.
I want to book a restaurant.
The ending 고 싶어요 means "want to".
Phrases with 예약
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 예약하다 | to reserve |
| 예약을 취소하다 | to cancel a reservation |
| 예약 확인 | reservation confirmation |
| 예약석 | reserved seat |
예약석 is the sign you will see on reserved tables. 예약 확인 appears in confirmation texts and emails.
A Common Mistake with 예약
- Wrong: using 예약 for meeting a friend.
- Correct: 약속 for personal plans; 예약 only with a business.
If you say you have a 예약 tonight, Koreans will assume a restaurant or salon booking, not a date with friends.
예약 Compared with 약속 and 취소
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 예약 | reservation | With a business |
| 약속 | appointment / promise | With people |
| 취소 | cancellation | The opposite action |
Both 예약 and 약속 contain 약, "promise", which is why they are easy to confuse.
At a Restaurant: Checking a Booking
A guest has already booked a table and is speaking to the staff member at the entrance. The staff need the booking name before finding the table.
Guest
예약했어요.
Yeyakaesseoyo.
I have a reservation.
Staff
성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Seonghami eotteoke doeseyo?
May I have your name?
Guest
김민수예요.
Gim Minsuyeyo.
I’m Kim Minsu.
Staff
두 분 맞으세요?
Du bun majeuseyo?
Is it for two people?
성함 is the respectful word for a person's name. Here the staff ask for the guest's name, not the name of the restaurant. 두 분 counts two people respectfully. A reservation conversation often moves straight from 예약 to a name, a time and a party size.
Which Booking Messages Will You See?
예약 가능 means “reservations available” or “booking possible”. 예약 마감 means bookings have closed or the available slots have filled. Neither phrase tells you the date by itself: look for the day and time next to it. A restaurant may have availability for lunch while dinner is fully booked.
예약 확인 can label the action of checking a reservation or a confirmation message. 예약 번호 means booking number. Keep the number with the booking name; a hotel or ticket service may use either one to find the correct reservation.
예약 변경 means “reservation change”. 예약 취소 means “reservation cancellation”. A change keeps the booking but alters a detail such as the time or number of people. A cancellation removes it. These short noun phrases commonly work as button labels, so there may be no verb ending after them.
Making a Booking Versus Arriving for One
예약하고 싶어요 means “I would like to make a reservation”. 예약했어요 says the booking has already been made. The difference matters at the entrance: the first asks to arrange something, while the second asks staff to find an existing booking.
For a restaurant phone call, prepare the date, time and number of diners. Saying only 예약하고 싶어요 starts the conversation but leaves those details open. If you arrive with a friend, one person can give the name used for the booking; both people do not need separate reservations for the same table.
The noun 예약 itself is neutral. Polite service conversations use endings such as 요, as in the guest's opening line. On an app screen, the shorter labels 예약 and 취소 are normal interface text; their lack of a polite ending does not make them rude.
Booking Words to Recognise Next
| Korean | Meaning | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| 날짜 | date | The calendar day of the booking. |
| 시간 | time | The hour or time slot you requested. |
| 인원 | number of people | The size of the group, often a form field. |
| 성함 | name, respectful | What staff ask when finding a guest's booking. |
| 예약 번호 | booking number | A reference for the specific reservation. |
The restaurant vocabulary lesson connects booking a table with arriving and ordering. Remember the two separate arrangements: 약속 is your plan to meet a friend, while 예약 is the table held for that meeting. One evening can involve both words.
Quick Self-Test
- You have already booked. Which opening fits: 예약했어요 or 예약하고 싶어요?
- What does 예약 변경 let you do?
- Does 인원 ask for the booking name or the number of people?
Show answers
- 예약했어요 announces an existing booking.
- Change details of a reservation, such as its time.
- 인원 asks for the number of people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make a Reservation in Korean?
Use the verb 예약하다, "to reserve". 식당을 예약하고 싶어요 means "I want to book a restaurant". When you arrive, say 예약했어요, "I made a reservation", and give your name. The same verb works for hotels, hair salons and tickets.
What Is the Difference between 예약 and 약속?
예약 is a booking with a business, such as a table, a room or a ticket. 약속 is an appointment or plan with people, such as meeting a friend, and it also means a promise. Dinner with a friend is a 약속; the table you book for it is a 예약.
How Do You Cancel a Reservation in Korean?
Use the set phrase 예약을 취소하다, "to cancel a reservation", built on 취소, cancellation. On the phone, the polite request form of this verb is all you need, followed by your name and booking time. Many Korean restaurants and clinics also confirm bookings by text, and the message usually includes a link or number for 예약 취소.
How Is 예약했어요 Pronounced?
예약했어요 sounds like [ye-ya-kae-sseo-yo]. The final ㄱ of 약 meets the ㅎ of 했, and the two merge into an aspirated k sound. The romanization yeyakaesseoyo reflects this, so do not pronounce a separate h.
Related Words and Next Steps
- Continue with the at the restaurant words.
- Find more single words like reservation in the Korean words A to Z index.
- Review reservation (예약) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.