How to Say ‘Please’ in Japanese
お願いします
o negai shi masu
[o neh-gai shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: [お願いします] is the standard polite way to make a request, and in taxis it often covers the whole implied action without stating every word. So [近い道でお願いします] sounds natural, not incomplete.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[o]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix used in set expressions like お願いします.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
願い
negai
[neh-gai]
request; wish
Part of 願い, related to requesting or asking for something.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
し
shi
[shee]
do
Part of します, the polite form of する, to do.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite ending
The polite non-past ending used in formal speech.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
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