Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 頼む | tanomu | [ta̠no̞mɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 拝み倒す | ogamitaosu |
頼む is a general term for requesting, asking or begging. Depending on the tone and context, it can range from a casual request to a desperate plea. To add emotional weight or intensity to a plea, you can use the form 頼むから, which functions like saying 'I'm begging you' or 'Please, I'm telling you'. If you are in urgent need of assistance, the word 助けて can also convey a strong sense of begging.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 拝み倒す is a combination of 拝む, meaning to worship or pray to and 倒す, meaning to knock down or overturn. Literally, it suggests the act of bowing or prostrating oneself repeatedly while praying for a favor.
Which one should you use?
頼む is a standard, neutral term for requesting or asking. In contrast, 拝み倒す is used to describe a much more intense and desperate level of begging, often implying that a person is practically prostrating themselves to get their way.
How does it change in a sentence?
頼む is the dictionary form (non-past) and is used in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
tanomu
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term, 土下座 (dogeza), for the physical act of kneeling and bowing the forehead to the floor to accompany a plea like 拝み倒す.
- The word 倒す in 拝み倒す usually means to defeat an opponent in a fight or sport, making the phrase literally sound like 'worshipping someone until they are defeated'.
- While English speakers might 'beg' for a favor, in Japanese, using the polite form of 頼む can sometimes make the request feel more like a command if the social hierarchy is misaligned.
Examples in context
- 頼むからさぁ、聞いてくれ。Listen to me, I beg of you.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 頼む to express a desperate plea.Tatoeba #11017909 by small_snow, translation #4474919 by AlanF_US
- お金をお願いします。Please, give me some money.
- お願いだから、一度だけ頼む。Onegai dakara, ichido dake tanomu.I'm begging you, just once.
Example conversation
Hiyori wants Daito to help her with a difficult task.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、本当に困ってるの。お願い、頼むよ。Daito, hontō ni komatteru no. Onegai, tanomu yo.Daito, I'm really in trouble. Please, I beg you.
- 大翔 Hirotoそんなに必死に頼まなくてもいいよ。sonna ni hisshi ni tanomanakute ii yo.You don't have to beg that desperately.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、手伝ってくれる？jaa, tetsudatte kureru?So, will you help me?
- 大翔 Hirotoわかったよ。やるよ。wakatta yo. yaru yo.Alright. I'll do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beg” translations and entries 頼む, 拝み倒す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
