お一人様
お
ひ
と
り
さ
ま
Meanings
1
one person; one customer
Polite expression used by businesses to refer to a single customer or guest, often seen in signs, menus, and reservation systems.
Please order at least one item per person.
We warmly welcome customers coming alone as well.
2
unmarried and childless older woman
Colloquial, sometimes self-deprecating or mildly derogatory term for a woman past typical marriage age who is single and without children. Compare 負け犬.
See also: 負け犬
She sometimes jokingly calls herself an 'ohitorisama' (unmarried older woman).
Usage patterns
- お一人様〈数〉点までlimited to 〈number〉 items per customer
This sale is limited to two items per customer.
- お一人様ですか'Just one (of you)?' — asked by service staff to confirm party size
The clerk asked me, "Just one?"
- お一人様専用〈物〉reserved or designed exclusively for solo customers
This seat is reserved for solo diners.
- お一人様を楽しむto enjoy doing things alone, embracing a single lifestyle
More and more women these days enjoy their single lifestyle.