How to Say ‘Please wait’ in Japanese
おまちください
o machi kudasai
[oh mah-chee koo-dah-sigh]
💬 Usage Tip: [おまちください] is a polite service phrase. [お] adds politeness, [まち] comes from the verb “to wait,” and [ください] means “please.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: You may hear this when a waiter is checking the menu, confirming an order, or preparing change. It is standard polite customer-service language, not cold or rude.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix added to some nouns and expressions to make them sound more respectful in customer service.
おまちください。
Please wait.
まち
machi
[mah-chee]
waiting
From the verb for wait; in this phrase it refers to waiting, as in asking a customer to wait.
すこしまちください。
Please wait a moment.
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please
A polite request form used when asking someone to do something.
こちらでください。
Please do it here.
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