How to Say ‘Please’ in Japanese
をお願いいたします。
o o negai itashi masu
[o o negai itashi masu]
💬 Usage Tip: [お願いいたします] is a very polite way to say "please" when asking for information or action. In this sentence, [を] marks what's being requested: [お名前とお時間をお願いいたします] = "your name and time, please."
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is standard polite front-desk or phone language in restaurants and shops. It sounds professional and respectful, not stiff or unusual.
Phrase Breakdown
を
o
[o]
object marker
The particle を marks the thing being requested or acted on.
お時間をお願いいたします。
May I have the time, please.
お
o
[o]
honorific prefix
The prefix お adds politeness to words in formal service language.
お願いしますの お は丁寧な表現です。
The 'o' in onegaishimasu is a polite expression.
願い
negai
[negai]
request
願い comes from the idea of a wish or request; in お願い it forms a polite request expression.
ご予約のお名前をお願いできますか。
Could I ask for the name for the reservation?
いたし
itashi
[itashi]
do humbly
いたし is the humble form stem of する, used in very polite expressions like お願いいたします.
確認いたしますので少々お待ちください。
I will confirm it, so please wait a moment.
ます
masu
[masu]
polite verb ending
ます is the standard polite ending for verbs in formal Japanese.
こちらでお席を確認します。
I will check the seating here.
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