How to Say ‘Just a little, please.’ in Japanese
少しだけお願いします。
sukoshi dake o negai shi masu
[skoo-shee dah-keh oh neh-gai shee mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: [だけ] means "just / only," so [少しだけ] is "just a little." It's a useful softener when asking for less of something: [ミルクは少しだけお願いします].
Phrase Breakdown
少しだけ
sukoshi dake
just a little
Means a small amount only.
水を少しだけください。
Please give me just a little water.
Words in this phrase
少し
sukoshi
[skoo-shee]
a little; a bit
Used to request a small amount in a gentle, polite way.
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
だけ
dake
[dah-keh]
only; just
Shows limitation, meaning only that small amount.
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
お願いします
o negai shi masu
please / I'd like to request
Polite phrase used to make a request.
それでお願いします。
That will do, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Adds politeness to the request expression お願いします.
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
願い
negai
[neh-gai]
request; favor
Part of お願いします, a very common polite way to say 'please.'
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
し
shi
[shee]
do
From する. In お願いします it helps make a polite request.
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
Adds politeness and is standard in customer interactions.
少しだけお願いします。
Just a little, please.
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