How to Say ‘Thank you (polite).’ in Japanese
よろしくお願いします。
yoroshiku o negai shi masu
[yoh-roh-shee-koo oh neh-gah-ee shee mah-soo]
💬 Usage Tip: [よろしくお願いします] is closer to “Thank you in advance / I look forward to working with you” than a simple “thanks.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: At the start and end of interviews, saying [よろしくお願いします] with a bow is standard business etiquette.
Phrase Breakdown
よろしく
yoroshiku
[yoh-roh-shee-koo]
please treat me favorably; thank you in advance
Used together with お願いします to form a very common polite closing in greetings and interviews.
面接の冒頭で、よろしくと言って挨拶します。
At the start of the interview, you greet by saying “よろしく.”
お願いします
o negai shi masu
please; I request (humbly)
Polite form from 願う (to request). Used to make a polite request. With よろしく, it becomes a very common fixed expression meaning “please treat me well / thank you in advance.”
確認をお願いします。
Please check (it).
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
(honorific prefix) o-
Polite prefix used in set phrases like お願いします; adds politeness.
面接ではおを付けた表現をよく使います。
In interviews, expressions with “お” are often used.
願い
negai
[neh-gah-ee]
request; favor
In お願いします, it refers to “a request/favor,” creating a humble, polite request.
勤務日の希望をお願いとして伝えます。
You communicate your desired working days as a request.
し
shi
[shee]
do (connecting form)
Stem of する; combined with ます to make the polite verb します.
面接では自己紹介をし、志望動機も話します。
In the interview, you introduce yourself and also talk about your motivation.
ます
masu
[mah-soo]
polite verb ending “-masu”
Polite ending used in formal situations like interviews.
面接では丁寧語で答えます。
In interviews, you answer in polite language.
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