Formal — to staff
Sushi · Restaurant
すみません、マグロをシャリ小さめで握っていただけますか？ — Excuse me, could you make the tuna sushi with a smaller portion of rice? (Sushi · Restaurant, Formal — to staff, JLPT N4)
You
すみません、マグロをシャリ小さめで握っていただけますか？
すみません、まぐろをしゃりちいさめでにぎっていただけますか？
Excuse me, could you make the tuna sushi with a smaller portion of rice?
Romaji: Sumimasen, maguro o shari chiisame de nigitte itadakemasu ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, shari chiisame desu ne. Kashikomarimashita.
Reply
はい、シャリ小さめですね。かしこまりました。
はい、しゃりちいさめですね。かしこまりました。
Yes, smaller rice portion. Certainly.
Gesture & etiquette
Slightly bow your head and make a small gap between your thumb and index finger to indicate 'small'.
Do not leave the rice behind and only eat the fish toppings; this is considered very impolite in Japan. Always ask for 'shari chiisame' beforehand if you cannot eat much rice.
#sushi#dining#custom order#rice#etiquette