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How to Say ‘A coffee, please.’ in Japanese

コーヒーをお願いします。

koohii o o negai shi masu

[koohii o o negai shi masu]

💬 Usage Tip: [をお願いします] is a standard polite way to order something. You can swap in almost any item: [ラテをお願いします] or [深煎りをお願いします].

Phrase Breakdown

コーヒー

koohii

[koohii]

coffee

The item being ordered.

Example

コーヒーをお願いしますと注文します。

I order by saying, 'Coffee, please.'

をお願いします

o o negai shi masu

please; I'd like ...

Used to politely request something when ordering.

Example

コーヒーをお願いします。

Coffee, please.

Words in this phrase

o

[o]

object marker

Marks コーヒー as the thing being requested.

Example

コーヒーをお願いしますとていねいに言います。

I politely say, 'Coffee, please.'

o

[o]

honorific prefix

Makes the request expression sound polite.

Example

おお願いしますの形でていねいさを出します。

The 'o' form helps express politeness in the request.

願い

negai

[negai]

request; wish

Part of お願いします, a standard phrase for politely asking for something.

Example

願いが入ったお願いしますはよく使います。

'Onegai shimasu,' which includes 'negai,' is used often.

shi

[shi]

do

Verb stem used in the polite request phrase.

Example

しはお願いしますの中にあります。

'Shi' appears inside 'onegai shimasu.'

ます

masu

[masu]

polite verb ending

Shows politeness in the request.

Example

ますがあると文がていねいです。

When 'masu' is used, the sentence is polite.

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