How do you say "Please make it less spicy." in Japanese?

"Please make it less spicy." in Japanese is "辛さ控えめでお願いします。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🌶️⬇️🙏

How to Say ‘Please make it less spicy.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "辛さ控えめでお願いします。" mean in English?

"辛さ控えめでお願いします。" means "Please make it less spicy." in English. Usage tip: [控えめ] means "light / less / on the mild side," so [辛さ控えめでお願いします。] is a natural way to ask for less spice. The [で] here gives the requested condition, like in [薄めでお願いします。] for "make it weaker / lighter, please."

辛さ控えめでお願いします。

kara sa hikaeme de o negai shi masu

[kah-rah sah hee-kah-eh-meh deh oh neh-gai shee mahss]

💬 Usage Tip: [控えめ] means "light / less / on the mild side," so [辛さ控えめでお願いします。] is a natural way to ask for less spice. The [で] here gives the requested condition, like in [薄めでお願いします。] for "make it weaker / lighter, please."

Phrase Breakdown

辛

kara

[kah-rah]

spicy

The kanji for spicy or hot flavor.

Example

辛い料理は好きです。

I like spicy food.

さ

[sah]

-ness; level

Turns 辛い into a noun meaning spiciness level.

Example

辛さを選べます。

You can choose the spice level.

控えめ

hikaeme

[hee-kah-eh-meh]

light; moderate

Means reduced, mild, or kept low.

Example

味は控えめが好きです。

I like milder flavors.

で

[deh]

with; by

A particle used to indicate the manner or condition, as in 'with mild spice.'

Example

少なめで注文しました。

I ordered it with a smaller portion.

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

A polite prefix added to make the request sound courteous.

Example

お会計をお願いします。

The bill, please.

願い

negai

[neh-gai]

request

From 願い, part of the set phrase お願いします used for polite requests.

Example

お願いがあります。

I have a request.

し

shi

[shee]

The stem of する inside お願いします.

Example

確認してください。

Please confirm it.

ます

masu

[mahss]

polite verb ending

A polite ending that completes the request expression.

Example

よろしくお願いします。

Thank you in advance.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager