How to Say ‘Please; I ask a favor (polite)’ in Japanese
お願いします
o negai shi masu
[oh neh-GUY shee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: [お願いします] comes from [願う] (to request/wish). It’s used for requests: [これ、お願いします] = “This one, please.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: At restaurants/shops, customers often just say [お願いします] with a gesture—polite and perfectly natural.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix “o-”
A polite prefix added to some nouns/verbs to make the expression more respectful/polite (e.g., お願い).
お名前は何ですか。
What is your name?
願い
negai
[neh-GUY]
request; favor (noun)
願い means a “wish/request.” In お願いします it becomes a polite request: “please.”
お願いがあります。
I have a request.
し
shi
[shee]
do (stem)
The stem of する (to do). Used with ます to form polite verbs like します.
勉強します。
I study.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending (non-past)
Adds politeness to verbs. お願いします is a set phrase meaning “please / I ask a favor.”
手伝います。
I’ll help.
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