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 an interjection used to make a polite request. It can be used as a standalone phrase meaning "Please" or "I'm counting on you" when starting a task or meeting someone. Related to this is the verb 喜ばす, which means to make happy or satisfy.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お願いします is a combination of the noun お願い (request) and the verb します (to do), literally meaning "I do a request."
Which one should you use?
While both mean please, お願いします is often used when asking for a service or an object to be provided. In contrast, …ください is used when requesting a specific action or a specific item from a list.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form …ください is used after a noun or a verb in the -te form to make a direct request. You may also use the simpler, less formal variation Onegai among friends and close acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 'please' (please) as a direct translation for every situation, but in Japanese, the choice between お願いします and …ください depends heavily on whether you are requesting an object or an action.
When do people say it?
When entering someone's house, you can say Ojamashimasu to express excuse me and show respect for their space.
Did you know?
- The root verb 願う can mean 'to wish' or 'to pray', making お願いします feel more like a humble prayer for help than a simple command.
- In business settings, people often say お願いします while bowing, and the depth of the bow communicates the intensity of the 'please'.
- While お願いします is used for requests, the word ください is actually 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
Hiyori asks Yota to take a photo of her.
- 陽葵 Himari写真を撮ってください。Shashin o totte kudasai.Please take a photo.
- 陽太 Yotaいいですよ。準備はいいですか？Ii desu yo. Junbi wa ii desu ka?Sure. Are you ready?
- 陽葵 Himariはい。お願いします！Hai. Onegaishimasu!Yes. Please!
- 陽太 Yotaはい、チーズ！Hai, chiizu!Say cheese!
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.
