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How to Say ‘Please (request); I ask (politely)’ in Japanese

お願いします

o negai shi masu

[oh]

💬 Usage Tip: In [お願いします], the [お] makes the request more polite. You'll see the same pattern in polite set requests like [お待ちください] and [お名前].

Phrase Breakdown

お

o

[oh]

polite prefix (honorific)

The honorific prefix added to show politeness or respect (often before nouns/verbs in set phrases like お願いします).

Example

夜は静かにしていただけるとお願いします。

I ask that you could keep it quiet at night.

願い

negai

し

shi

ます

masu

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