Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| お願いします | o-negai shimasu | [o̞ne̞ɡa̠i ɕima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) |
| …ください | …kudasái |
The phrase お願いします is used to make general requests or to ask for a favor. It can also be used as a standalone phrase to mean "Please" or "Please do this for me" when the context makes the object of the request clear. If you are requesting a specific object or a specific action, you may use the form …ください.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お願いします literally means "I do a request" and includes the honorific prefix o-.
Which one should you use?
…ください is used when requesting a specific object or action, whereas お願いします is used for more general requests or when asking for a favor. Additionally, お願いします carries a stronger sense of asking for a favor than …ください.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using …ください to request an action, it is attached to the te-form of a verb.
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
Did you know?
- While it translates to 'please', the verb inside お願いします is actually the same word used for 'wishing' or 'praying' in a religious context.
- When athletes or martial artists bow before a match, they often say お願いします to their opponent to ask for a fair and productive bout.
- When using …ください to ask for an object, you are grammatically commanding the listener to 'give' it to you, though the polite tone softens the bluntness.
Examples in context
- 勘定お願いします。The check, please.This sentence is useful for requesting the check using お願いします.Tatoeba #5112 by bunbuku, translation #1710 by brauliobezerra
- 魚をお願いします。Fish, please.This sentence is useful for requesting fish using お願いします.Tatoeba #182092 by small_snow, translation #19342 by CK
- 修理お願いします。Please fix this.This sentence is useful for requesting a repair using お願いします.Tatoeba #13470014 by bunbuku, translation #54929 by CK
- 249 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are at a cafe ordering drinks.
- 結衣 Yuiアイスコーヒーをお願いします。Aisu kōhī o onegaishimasu.An iced coffee, please.
- 陽太 Yotaかしこまりました。Kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
- 結衣 Yuiあと、ケーキもお願いします。Ato, kēki mo onegaishimasu.And a cake as well, please.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、少々お待ちください。Hai, shōshō omachi kudasai.Yes, please wait a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries お願いします, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
