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How to Say ‘Please be gentle.’ in Japanese

やさしくお願いします。

yasashiku o negai shi masu

[yasashiku oh negai shi masu]

💬 Usage Tip: [やさしくお願いします。] is one of the best survival phrases for massages. It is polite and easy to remember.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese service staff are usually very responsive to comfort requests, especially when phrased this way.

Phrase Breakdown

やさしく

yasashiku

[yasashiku]

gently; softly

Adverb asking that the action be done gently.

Example

その場所はやさしくお願いします。

Please be gentle with that area.

お願いします

o negai shi masu

please; I request it

A polite phrase used to ask someone to do something for you.

Example

これをお願いします。

This one, please.

Words in this phrase

o

[oh]

honorific prefix

Polite prefix attached to some nouns and expressions.

Example

お願いします、と言いました。

I said, 'Please.'

願い

negai

[negai]

request; wish

Core noun of お願いします, expressing a request.

Example

お願いがあります。

I have a request.

shi

[shi]

do

Verb stem of します, used in many polite set phrases.

Example

お願いしました。

I made a request.

ます

masu

[masu]

polite verb ending

Adds politeness to the expression.

Example

やさしくお願いします。

Please be gentle.

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