How to Say ‘Please / I ask (polite)’ in Japanese
お願いします
o negai shi masu
[oh neh-gah-ee shee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: [お願いします] is a polite request marker. Combine with many nouns/phrases: [よろしくお願いします] / [確認お願いします] (workplace).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese often prefers soft requests over direct commands, so [お願いします] appears everywhere in business conversations.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix (polite)
Adds politeness; appears in set phrases like お願いします.
お手数ですがお願いいたします。
Sorry to trouble you, but please do so.
願い
negai
[neh-gah-ee]
request; favor
From 願う “to wish/ask.” お願い is “a request/a favor,” used politely in business.
ご確認のお願いがございます。
I have a request for you to check/confirm.
し
shi
[shee]
do (connected form)
The connecting form of する. In お願いします, it links the noun お願い with the polite verb ending.
少々お待ちください、お願いします。
Please wait a moment.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
Makes the request polite: します.
ご対応をお願いします。
Please handle it / Thank you for your support.
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