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 request or ask for something politely. It can function as a standalone phrase to say 'Please' when you are starting a transaction or when someone offers you something. The form …ください is also used to express please, but it is specifically used after a noun or a verb in its te-form to request a specific object or a direct action.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お願いします literally means 'I do a request' or 'I make a request'.
Which one should you use?
While both forms mean 'please', お願いします is used for requesting services or favors, whereas …ください is used for requesting specific objects or direct actions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form …ください is used after a noun or a verb in its te-form to request an object or an action.
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
When do people say it?
When someone offers you something, you can use お願いします to accept. Note that the word douzo is used in a different way, meaning 'here you go' or 'after you' when offering something to someone.
Did you know?
- While お願いします is a request, it is also the standard way to introduce yourself to a new colleague or business partner. In this context, it functions as 'I look forward to working with you' or 'Please treat me well'.
- If you are asking for a favor from a superior, using only ください can actually sound somewhat demanding or bossy rather than polite.
- When using お願いします, it is common to perform a slight bow. The depth of the bow varies depending on how big the favor is or how high the other person's status is.
Examples in context
- 勘定お願いします。The check, please.This sentence is useful for asking for 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
Misaki and Ren are ordering drinks at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiアイスコーヒーをお願いします。Aisu kōhī o onegaishimasu.I'll have an iced coffee, please.
- 蓮 Renわかりました。少々お待ちください。Wakarimashita. Shōshō omachi kudasai.Understood. Please wait a moment.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、ケーキもお願いします。A, kēki mo onegaishimasu.Oh, some cake as well, please.
- 蓮 Renかしこまりました。Kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
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.
