How to Say ‘Please (polite request)’ in Japanese
お願いします
おねがいします
💬 Usage Tip: [お願いします] comes from [願う] “to wish/request.” It’s used after a noun to mean “please (do this)” e.g., [これお願いします].
🇯🇵 In Japan: In shops/restaurants, customers often say [お願いします] when ordering or handing something over—polite and very common.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
おお
[o]
(honorific prefix)
お is an honorific prefix that makes the word sound more polite (e.g., お願い, お名前).
おねがいします。
Please.
願いねがい
[negai]
request; favor
願い (ねがい) means a request or wish. In お願いします, it becomes a polite way to ask someone to do something.
ひとつ お願い が あります。
I have one request.
しし
[shi]
do (polite stem part)
し is the stem of する (“to do”). In お願いします, it’s part of the polite verb form meaning “I ask (you).”
すこし まってください、お願いします と いいます。
Please wait a moment; you say ‘onegaishimasu’.
ますます
[masu]
polite verb ending (masu)
ます is a polite verb ending used in formal/neutral situations. It makes the verb sound polite.
よろしく お願いします。
Nice to meet you / Please be kind to me.
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