How to Say ‘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]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a very standard, polite way to order in a café. For many everyday purchases in Japan, item + [をお願いします。] is more natural than trying to say a direct equivalent of "I want."
Phrase Breakdown
コーヒーを
koohii o
coffee (as the object)
The particle を marks コーヒー as the thing being requested.
コーヒーをください。
Please give me coffee.
Words in this phrase
コーヒー
koohii
[koohii]
coffee
The drink coffee; often used when ordering at a café.
コーヒーは毎朝飲みます。
I drink coffee every morning.
を
o
[o]
object marker
Marks the thing being requested or acted on.
コーヒーをお願いしますと言いました。
I said, 'Coffee, please.'
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
please / I'd like to order
A polite phrase used to make a request when ordering or asking for something.
水をお願いします。
Water, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[o]
honorific prefix
Adds politeness to the request expression お願いします.
おお願いしますの最初のおは丁寧です。
The first 'o' in onegaishimasu makes it polite.
願い
negai
[negai]
request; favor
The main part of お願いします, meaning a request or favor.
願いを込めて注文しました。
I ordered with a hopeful request.
し
shi
[shi]
do
Stem of する, helping build the expression お願いします.
しは動詞の形の一部です。
Shi is part of a verb form.
ます
masu
[masu]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending used in formal or polite conversation.
店では丁寧に話します。
At shops, we speak politely.
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