お願いします
o-negai shimasu[o̞ne̞ɡa̠i ɕima̠sɨ̥]
The English phrase "please" can be expressed in Japanese using お願いします (o-negai shimasu) or …ください.
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 |
お願いします is an interjection used to make a polite request. It can be used as a standalone phrase to mean "Please" or "Please do this for me." The related verb 喜ばす means to make happy or satisfy.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お願いします literally means "I do a request."
Which one should you use?
…ください is used to request a specific object or action, whereas お願いします is used to request a service or favor.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of the concept of a request or desire is 願い.
How do you pronounce it?
o-negai shimasu
Did you know?
- While お願いします means 'please', it is also the standard way to say 'nice to meet you' at the end of an introduction, effectively asking the other person to treat you kindly in the future.
- If you want to say 'please' when offering something to someone else, you cannot use お願いします or …ください, but must use the word どうぞ instead.
- Using …ください (kudasai) is actually a command from the verb 'to give' (kudasu) in its imperative form, despite being polite.
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
- コーヒーをお願いします。Coffee, please.
- もちろん！お願い！Of course! Please!
- ああ、いいよ。お願い。Sure, no problem. Please.
- 249 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe where a customer is ordering a drink.
- 大翔 Hirotoアイスコーヒーをお願いします。Aisu kōhī o onegaishimasu.An iced coffee, please.
- 陽葵 Himariかしこまりました。Kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
- 大翔 Hirotoあと、このケーキもお願いします。Ato, kono kēki mo onegaishimasu.Also, this cake please.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
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.
