How to Say ‘Please wait’ in Japanese
少々お待ちください
shoushou o machi kudasai
[shōshō o machi kudasai]
💬 Usage Tip: A common polite phrase asking for a moment’s patience.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Widely used in customer service to politely handle waiting times.
Phrase Breakdown
少々
shoushou
[shōshō]
a moment
Request for a slight wait or delay.
少々お時間をください。
Please give me a moment.
お待ちください
o machi kudasai
Words in this phrase
お
o
[o]
please (honorific)
A polite prefix to verbs.
お食事は何にしますか？
What will you have for a meal?
待ち
machi
[machi]
wait
A request to hold or pause.
待ち時間がかかります。
It takes waiting time.
ください
kudasai
[kudasai]
please (command)
Polite request for actions.
どうぞよろしくお願いします。
Please treat me well.
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