cover charge

[tzfujimino]

Hello.

Is the following translation (from Japanese into English) understandable? Thank you.

Please note that there is a 400-yen cover charge and that we serve "O-toshi" (a small appetizer) to every customer. (The "O-toshi" is included in the cover charge.)
We offer salad as the "O-toshi".
You can get free refills.
Please ask your server for your refill.

 

[teechar]

Please note that there is a 400-Yen cover charge per customer [STRIKE]and that we serve[/STRIKE] which includes "O-toshi"- a small appetizer. [STRIKE]to every customer. (The "O-toshi" is included in the cover charge.)[/STRIKE]
We offer salad as [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] "O-toshi".
You can get free refills.
Please ask your server for [STRIKE]your[/STRIKE] a refill.

 

[tedmc]

For the 2nd sentence, I would say: We offer "O-toshi" as salad.

3rd & 4th sentences could be written: Free refills are served.

 

[teechar]

For the 2nd sentence, I would say: We offer "O-toshi" as salad.

If tzfujimino meant a specific type of salad, for example "green salad" or "cheese salad", then no.

 

[tzfujimino]

There are many kinds of "O-toshi":
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=お...VChMIvs6V4ov5xgIVYximCh1E6gjE&biw=360&bih=511
"O-toshi" means a Japanese style appetizer, and at the drinking establishment where my friend works, they serve salad as the appetizer.

 

[tedmc]

Let's take another example:
1.We offer prawn cocktail as appetizer.
2. We offer appetizer as prawn cocktail.
I think I prefer No.1.

 

[Rover_KE]

Ted, #2 is incorrect.

Teechar, there's no need to capitalise yen – any more than there would be capitalise dollars. Also a cover is an individual place setting, so per customer is redundant after cover charge.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would say: We offer "O-toshi" as salad.

I take it to mean 'We offer a Japanese appetizer as salad', which I would consider incorrect according to post#7 above.

 

[tedmc]

I take it to mean 'We offer a Japanese appetizer as salad', which I would consider incorrect according to post#7 above.

Do you mean the reverse is true : We offer salad as Japanese appetizer?

 

[Eckaslike]

I know this isn't much different, but I would actually naturally write or say:

"Please note that there is a 400 yen cover charge, which includes an "O-toshi" salad as a small appetizer".

"Refills are free. Please ask your server."

The use of "an O-toshi salad" would cover the fact that any variety of the "O-toshi" salad could be served.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you mean the reverse is true : We offer salad as Japanese appetizer?

Yes, but I would add an article before 'Japanese appetizer'.

 

[tedmc]

Yes, but I would add an article before 'Japanese appetizer'.

I think an article is optional there. It is just like saying: have ice cream as (a) dessert.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think an article is needed before 'appetizer', which is a countable noun according to http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/appetizer

 

[tedmc]

Sentence No. 2 is an example without an article.

http://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?hardm=1&t=0&l=0&p=5&q=appetizer

 

[Matthew Wai]

I trust the dictionary more than FRAZE·IT.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree with Matthew.

 

[tedmc]

I trust the dictionary more than FRAZE·IT.

Do you trust the second definition of this dictionary?

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/appetizer

 

[Matthew Wai]

Do you trust the second definition of this dictionary?
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/appetizer

Its construction is different from that of the OP's sentence.

 

[tedmc]

Its construction is different from that of the OP's sentence.

How is it different?

OP's sentence: We offer salad as (an)appetizer.

There are two definitions of "appetizer"1. a small amount of food eaten before a meal 2. the first part of a meal

If you use the first definition, you need an article. Whereas if you use the second definition, you do not need an article.

We offer salad as/for appetizer (the first part of a meal).

Similarly,
We offer ice cream as/for dessert (the last part of a meal).

 

[Tdol]

How about:

Please note that there is a 400-yen cover charge, which includes a small salad as an appetizer.