How to Say ‘Please wait.’ in Japanese
お待ちください
o machi kudasai
[oh mah-chee koo-dah-sigh]
💬 Usage Tip: [待ちください] comes from [待つ], “to wait,” with polite [お]. It is a standard request meaning “please wait.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Staff may say this when checking your order, preparing drinks, or arranging a table. It is polite, not abrupt.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to 待ちください, making it appropriate in customer service.
お待ちくださいと丁寧に言います。
You politely say 'please wait.'
待ち
machi
[mah-chee]
wait
待ち is the stem of 待つ, 'to wait,' used in the polite request お待ちください.
少し待ちください。
Please wait a little.
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please do
ください is used to politely ask someone to do something.
こちらへどうぞ、座ってください。
This way please; please sit down.
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