How to Say ‘Please.’ in Japanese
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
[oh neh-gai shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: On its own, [お願いします] is a very common polite "please" in service situations. It can sound more natural than a literal "please" translation in English, especially when ordering or adding a request.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix added to make an expression more respectful, as in お願いします.
お名前をお願いします。
Your name, please.
願い
negai
[neh-gai]
request
From 願い, meaning wish or request. In お願いします, it helps form a polite request.
ご案内のお願いをします。
I make a request for guidance.
し
shi
[shee]
do
The stem of する, to do. In お願いします, it helps make the polite expression please.
確認しお願いします。
Please check.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A polite ending used in present or non-past forms, common in formal speech.
少々待ちますのでお願いします。
Please wait a moment.
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