はい、お願いします
Hai, onegaishimasu
In Japanese, "yes, please" is expressed as はい、お願いします (Hai, onegaishimasu).
This phrase is used when someone offers you something (like a drink) or offers to do something for you. The term onegaishimasu carries the nuance of "please" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of はい (yes) and お願いします (a polite way to say "I make a request" or "please").
Which one should you use?
While はい、お願いします accepts an offer, はい、結構です is a polite way to decline an offer, effectively meaning "no thank you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
はい、お願いします is a common way to say 'yes, please' in formal settings. For casual and friendly use among friends or people you are comfortable with, you can use うん、お願いするよ or うん、お願い.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb お願いします is the polite form of onegau, and it is used to accept an offer or ask for a favor.
How do you pronounce it?
Hai, onegaishimasu
Did you know?
- In a professional setting, you might hear お願いします when a meeting starts, even though no one is offering a drink or a gift. In this context, it translates to 'I look forward to working with you' or 'please treat me well'.
- The word お願い comes from the verb 願う, which means 'to pray' or 'to wish', giving the phrase 'yes, please' a subtle nuance of hoping for a favor.
- In Japanese, the 'yes' in はい、お願いします is often used as a 'backchannel' to show you are listening, even if you haven't actually agreed to the request yet.
Examples in context
- 窓側の席でよろしいですか？はい、お願いします。Madogawa no seki de yoroshii desu ka? Hai, onegaishimasu.Is a window seat okay? Yes, please.
Example conversation
A waiter asks a customer if she wants a menu.
- 大翔 Hirotoメニューをお持ちしましょうか？Menyuu o omochi shimashou ka?Shall I bring you a menu?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、お願いします。Hai, onegaishimasu.Yes, please.
- 大翔 Hirotoかしこまりました。Kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
