お願いします
o-negai shimasu[o̞ne̞ɡa̠i ɕima̠sɨ̥]
In Japanese, "please" can be expressed in several ways depending on the context, with the default form being お願いします (o-negai shimasu). Wiktionary also lists …ください (…kudasái).
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
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 |
These phrases are used as interjections to make polite requests. お願いします is used broadly for general requests or when asking for a service, while …ください is specifically used when requesting a particular object or a specific action.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お願いします literally means 'I make a request' or 'I do a request', utilizing a polite prefix.
Which one should you use?
Use …ください when you are requesting a specific object or a specific action. In contrast, お願いします is used more broadly for general requests or when asking for a service.
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 request an object or an action.
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, you can use お願いします as a way to say 'Nice to meet you' when being introduced to someone. It serves as a request for the other person to treat you well in your future relationship.
- While ください is often taught as 'please', using it with a superior or a customer can sometimes sound like a command. To be truly polite in professional settings, お願いします is often a safer choice.
- The word 願い (negai) found in お願いします is also the word used for 'a wish' or 'a prayer'. When you use this phrase, you are linguistically framing your request as a formal petition.
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
At a photo studio, a photographer is arranging a shot.
- 蓮 Renもう少し右をお願いします。Mou sukoshi migi o onegaishimasu.Please move a little more to the right.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、これでいいですか？Hai, kore de ii desu ka?Yes, is this okay?
- 蓮 Renはい、バッチリです。Hai, bacchiri desu.Yes, perfect.
- 結衣 Yui良かったです。Yokatta desu.I am glad.
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.
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