英語でお願いします
eigo de onegaishimasu
The phrase "english please" in Japanese is 英語でお願いします (eigo de onegaishimasu).
This phrase is a polite request for someone to speak or provide information in the English language. Use 英語でお願いします when you want someone to speak English. However, do not use it if you are asking for an English-language object, such as a menu, unless you specifically mean "the English version, please".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into 英語 (English) + で (in/by means of) + お願いします (please/I request).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
英語でお願いします is a polite and standard way to make the request, making it suitable for use with staff, strangers or in professional settings. If you drop the お願いします part and simply say 英語で, the phrase becomes much more casual and slightly blunt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle で is used here to indicate the means or instrument, which in this context means "in" English.
How do you pronounce it?
eigo de onegaishimasu
Did you know?
- The word 英語 uses a character 英 that originally meant 'flower' or 'hero' before it became the standard shorthand for England.
- While 英語でお願いします is polite, a Japanese person might respond with 英語は苦手です (eigo wa nigate desu) to politely say they are 'weak' at English rather than saying they 'cannot' speak it.
- The word お願いします comes from a verb meaning 'to pray' or 'to entreat'. When you use it, you are linguistically asking for a favor or a blessing rather than just making a request.
Examples in context
- 英語でお願いします。Eigo de onegaishimasu.English, please.
- 説明を英語でお願いします。Setsumei o eigo de onegaishimasu.Please explain it in English.
- メニューを英語でお願いします。Menyuu o eigo de onegaishimasu.English menu, please.
Example conversation
At a hotel front desk.
- 結衣 Yuiすみません、英語でお願いします。Sumimasen, eigo de onegaishimasu.Excuse me, English please.
- 健太 Kentaはい、もちろんです。Hai, mochiron desu.Yes, of course.
- 結衣 Yuiチェックインをお願いします。Chekkuin o onegaishimasu.I would like to check in.
- 健太 Kenta承知いたしました。Shouchi itashimashita.Certainly.
