I have a question about how to properly answer a question.

At restaurants, the hostess will often ask 「何名様ですか」 ("How many in your
party?")

For example, if you have four people in your party, is it proper to reply
「4名です」? Or is 「4人です」 better?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-24T01:14:06.687
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2017-05-06T16:35:26.390
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question
word-choice
Proper answer to 「何名様ですか」
There is no difference between 4人です and 4名です.

You may say the word as you like.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-24T02:49:29.703
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2017-05-06T16:35:26.390
2017-05-06T16:35:26.390
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answer
According to [the article](http://www.nhk.or.jp/kininaru-blog/55095.html) from
"[トクする日本語](http://www.nhk.or.jp/kininaru-blog/)" by NHK, 人 is used when you
just count the number of people whereas 名 is more used in a formal expression
or when there is a fixed number.

`「人{にん}」＝【単純{たんじゅん}に人数{にんずう}を数{かぞ}える場合{ばあい}】、「名{めい}」＝【改{あらた}まった表現{ひょうげん}をする場合{ばあい}、定員{ていいん}･定数{ていすう}のある場合{ばあい}】とまとめることができそうです`

Therefore, restaurants wouldn't ask you "何人様{なんにんさま}ですか". As a customer "４人"
is more appropriate since "４名" sounds a bit formal and objective. Although,
nowadays people don't really mind whether "４人" or "４名" is used in response.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-09T19:57:15.303
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2014-12-11T09:04:34.240
2014-12-11T09:04:34.240
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answer