What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the honorific prefix o, the noun makase (entrusting/leaving to someone) and the verb shimasu (to do).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form お任せします is polite and suitable for use with superiors, customers or in professional settings. どうぞお好きなようにしてください is a polite and formal way to say 'up to you' in Japanese. In casual settings with friends or peers, you can use the shorter form 任せるよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
While お任せします means 'I leave it to you', the similar-sounding お任せください is used when you want to say 'Please leave it to me' (taking the responsibility yourself).
How do you pronounce it?
omakase shimasu
When do people say it?
The word お任せ is widely used in Japanese dining to refer to a meal where the customer leaves the selection of dishes entirely to the chef's discretion.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, 任せるよ can be used as a challenge, implying 'I will let you try this, but I doubt you can do it'.
- Some specialized shops offer omakase packages for services other than food, such as personalized shopping or skincare routines.
- In Japanese culture, telling someone 'it is up to you' can sometimes be interpreted as a refusal to cooperate if the context is not clearly friendly. It can occasionally carry a nuance of 'I don't care'.
Examples in context
- お任せします。I'll leave it up to you.Tatoeba #5476826 by mariko, translation #1274224 by CK
- あなたにお任せします。It is up to you.Tatoeba #1147505 by bunbuku, translation #42493 by CK
- 時間はあなたにお任せします。The time is up to you.Tatoeba #150588 by small_snow, translation #263969 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Hiroto are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 陽葵 Himari今日の夕食は何がいい？Kyō no yūshoku wa nani ga ii?What would you like for dinner today?
- 大翔 Hiroto何でもいいよ。陽葵に決めてほしいな。Nan demo ii yo. Hiyori ni kimete hoshii na.Anything is fine. I want you to decide, Hiyori.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、お店選びはお任せしますね。Jā, omise erabi wa omakase shimasu ne.Then, I'll leave the choice of restaurant up to you.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった。いい店を探すよ。Wakatta. Ii mise o sagasu yo.Got it. I'll look for a good place.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
