How do you say "Please be gentler." in Japanese?

"Please be gentler." in Japanese is "やさしくお願いします。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Please be gentler.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "やさしくお願いします。" mean in English?

"やさしくお願いします。" means "Please be gentler." in English. Usage tip: A very natural request. [お願いします] makes it polite, so it sounds cooperative rather than complaining.

やさしくお願いします。

yasashiku o negai shi masu

[yah-sah-shee-koo oh neh-gai shee mahs]

💬 Usage Tip: A very natural request. [お願いします] makes it polite, so it sounds cooperative rather than complaining.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese customers often phrase discomfort gently. This is exactly the kind of polite, useful sentence therapists expect to hear.

Phrase Breakdown

やさしく

yasashiku

[yah-sah-shee-koo]

gently

Describes doing something in a gentle way. Here it refers to massage pressure.

Example

やさしくお願いします。

Please be gentle.

お願いします。

o negai shi masu

please; I request it

Polite request phrase used after an adverb or action description.

Example

静かにお願いします。

Please be quiet.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

A polite prefix attached to some words to make the expression more respectful.

Example

お水をください。

Please give me some water.

願い

negai

[neh-gai]

request / wish

The core noun of お願いします, expressing a request or favor.

Example

お願いがあります。

I have a request.

し

shi

[shee]

Part of the verb します, the polite form of する, to do.

Example

お願いします。

Please / I request it.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

Polite ending used in verbs such as します.

Example

お願いします。

Please / I request it.

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