How to Say ‘Please.’ in Japanese
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
[oh neh-guy shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Naming what you want followed by お願いします is the standard, polite way to order anything in Japan.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix used in polite expressions
The polite prefix お makes the following word sound more courteous.
お願いできますか。
Could you please do that?
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
request; favor
願い refers to a wish or request, and in お願い it forms a polite request expression.
お願いがあります。
I have a request.
し
shi
[shee]
do; make
The verb stem of する, attached to 交換 to form the action 'to exchange.'
名刺を交換したいです。
I want to exchange business cards.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite present/future ending
ます makes a verb polite in present or future statements.
予約します。
I will make a reservation.
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