Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| …ください | …kudasái | |
| お願いします | o-negai shimasu | [o̞ne̞ɡa̠i ɕima̠sɨ̥] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different words for "please" depending on whether you are requesting an object, an action or a service. お願いします is used when asking for a service, a favor or someone's assistance, such as when speaking to a professional like a waiter or shopkeeper. The form …ください is used when requesting a specific object or an action.
What does it mean word for word?
お願いします is composed of the noun negai (request or wish) with the honorific prefix o- and the polite verb shimasu (to do), literally translating to "I do a request".
Which one should you use?
…ください is used to request an object or an action, whereas お願いします is used to request a service or a favor.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
お願いします can be used as a standalone phrase to mean "please" or "please do this for me".
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use …ください to request a favor or service. Instead, use お願いします when requesting actions or assistance from others.
Did you know?
- When starting a new project or sports match, teammates often say よろしくお願いします to one another to express a hope for mutual cooperation.
- The phrase お願いします is often accompanied by a bow, and the depth of the bow changes depending on how large the favor being requested is.
- While …ください is polite, using it with a superior can sometimes sound like a command because it is the imperative form of the verb 'to give'.
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
At a coffee shop, Ren is ordering a drink.
- 陽葵 Himariご注文はお決まりですか？gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?Have you decided on your order?
- 蓮 Renアイスコーヒーをお願いします。aisu ko-hi- o onegaishimasu.An iced coffee, please.
- 陽葵 Himariかしこまりました。kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
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.
