名 vs 人 for counting people?


We were asking for seats at a restaurant in Kyoto and were unsure whether to
ask for _nimei_ or _futari_. Which would be more appropriate? What are the
distinctions in usage between these two counters?




**Short Answer:** If you're a customer trying to make a reservation, you can
use whichever you want.

**Long Answer** : 名 and 人 are different in _formality_. But 名 and 人 are not
keigo; they are not honorific/humble expressions. Let's not mix them up.

名 is clearly _formal_ and _businesslike_ as compared to 人. If you used 名 in
casual conversations, you would end up sounding fairly awkward. On the other
hand, 人 is neutral as far as formality is concerned. Basically it can be used
in any situation.

名 is not particularly more _respectful_ than 人. Using 名 does not automatically
mean you are paying respect to the people counted. In other words, you can
safely use 名 to refer to yourselves. It's not rude at all.

If you're a customer, you don't necessarily have to use 名, but it may be safer
to do so if you're unsure. The more expensive and high-class the restaurant
is, the more you may feel like using 名. I would probably use 人 at a cheap and
casual izakaya. The difference is small, anyway, so you don't have to worry
too much.

If you're an employee of a restaurant/hotel and want to count the number of
guests, you usually use the formal 名, but that's not enough. 名 must be
followed by 様 to show your respect to your guests (e.g., 2名様). You can also
use the almighty 人 and say お2人様 (ofutari-sama), which is respectful enough.




**Short Answer:** If you're a customer trying to make a reservation, you can
use whichever you want.

**Long Answer** : 名 and 人 are different in _formality_. But 名 and 人 are not
keigo; they are not honorific/humble expressions. Let's not mix them up.

名 is clearly _formal_ and _businesslike_ as compared to 人. If you used 名 in
casual conversations, you would end up sounding fairly awkward. On the other
hand, 人 is neutral as far as formality is concerned. Basically it can be used
in any situation.

名 is not particularly more _respectful_ than 人. Using 名 does not automatically
mean you are paying respect to the people counted. In other words, you can
safely use 名 to refer to yourselves. It's not rude at all.

If you're a customer, you don't necessarily have to use 名, but it may be safer
to do so if you're unsure. The more expensive and high-class the restaurant
is, the more you may feel like using 名. I would probably use 人 at a cheap and
casual izakaya. The difference is small, anyway, so you don't have to worry
too much.

If you're an employee of a restaurant/hotel and want to count the number of
guests, you usually use the formal 名, but that's not enough. 名 must be
followed by 様 to show your respect to your guests (e.g., 2名様). You can also
use the almighty 人 and say お2人様 (ofutari-sama), which is respectful enough.

