How to Say ‘Please.’ in Japanese
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
[oh neh-guy shee mahss]
🇯🇵 In Japan: At offices and shops, [お願いします] is a very flexible polite phrase. Depending on the moment, it can mean "please," "I'm asking for your help," or even "here you go" when handing over a form.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Polite prefix that makes the expression more respectful.
お願いします。
Please / I ask for your help.
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
wish; request
From 願う, expressing a request or asking for something.
確認をお願いします。
Please check it.
します
shi masu
[shee]
do
Polite ending used in the set phrase ‘onegaishimasu.’
お願いします。
Please / I request this.
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shee]
do
Stem of する, part of the polite request expression.
よろしくお願いします。
Thank you in advance / Please treat me well.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
Polite ending in the expression お願いします.
これをお願いします。
This one, please.
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