お水をお願いします
omizu o onegaishimasu
The English phrase "water please" is translated into Japanese as お水をお願いします (omizu o onegaishimasu).
The phrase is a standard and highly polite way to order water in a restaurant or cafe.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase お水をお願いします, お水 means water, where the prefix お is added to mizu to make the noun more polite and respectful. The particle を acts as an object marker, marking water as the direct object of the request.
How does it change in a sentence?
The prefix お is added to mizu to make the noun more polite and respectful when requesting it, and the particle を marks water as the direct object of the request.
How do you pronounce it?
omizu o onegaishimasu
Did you know?
- In Japan, it is common to see 'water' mentioned in the phrase mizu-shobai, which literally means 'water business' but actually refers to the nightlife and entertainment industry.
- If you are requesting hot water for tea, you should say お湯をお願いします (oyu o onegaishimasu) instead of using mizu, as mizu specifically refers to cold water.
- In many Japanese restaurants, you do not need to say お水をお願いします because a waiter will often automatically bring a pitcher of water and a glass to your table as soon as you sit down.
Examples in context
- お水をお願いします。omizu o onegaishimasu.Water, please.
- 冷たいお水をお願いします。tsumetai omizu o onegaishimasu.Cold water, please.
Example conversation
At a cafe, Misaki asks the waiter for water.
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、お水をお願いします。sumimasen, omizu o onegaishimasu.Excuse me, water please.
- 健太 Kentaはい、かしこまりました。hai, kashikomarimashita.Yes, certainly.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 健太 Kentaお待たせいたしました。omatase itashimashita.Sorry to keep you waiting.
