Short answer
“please” in Japanese is お願いします
How to say please in Japanese?
How to say please in Japanese: the most common expression is お願いします (onegaishimasu), a polite phrase for making requests and asking favors. Use ください (kudasai) when asking for a specific object or after the te-form of a verb to mean 'please do ~', and use どうぞ (dōzo) when offering something to someone. The casual form お願い (onegai) works with friends and family, but avoid it in formal situations. Japanese has no single exact equivalent of English 'please', so choose the form based on what you are asking for and who you are talking to.
Common pairings
よろしくお願いします〜してくださいどうぞお入りください
How to use it
- Use お願いします when you are asking someone to do something as a favor. It is polite enough for coworkers, strangers, and customer service.
- Use ください when you want a specific thing or action: after a noun with を for objects, or after the te-form of a verb for actions.
- Use どうぞ when offering something, not when asking. It is the 'please' of invitations and giving.
Examples
この書類にサインをお願いします。
Please sign this document.
Kono shorui ni sain o onegaishimasu. Use お願いします when politely asking someone to do a favor.
水をください。
Please give me water.
Mizu o kudasai. Use ください when requesting an object; it can also follow the te-form to request an action.
どうぞお入りください。
Please come in.
Dōzo o-hairi kudasai. どうぞ makes the invitation sound polite and welcoming.
お願い！
Please!
Onegai! This is the casual shortened form. Use it only with close friends or family.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 水をください | どうぞ is used for offering, not for asking. Adding it to a request can make it sound like you are offering the water instead of asking for it. | |
| 私 |
私に水をください | Use に to mark the recipient and を to mark the object. Replacing に with を makes the sentence ungrammatical. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 待ってください | When you want someone to do an action, the natural pattern is te-form + ください. Using お願いします as a separate word before the verb is not natural. |
FAQ
- How to say please in JapaneseThe standard phrase is お願いします (onegaishimasu). For specific requests, use ください (kudasai), and for offering, use どうぞ (dōzo).
- What is the difference between ください and お願いします?お願いします is a polite way to ask a favor. ください is more direct and is attached to a noun or the te-form of a verb to mean 'please give me' or 'please do ~'.
- Can I use どうぞ to ask for something?No, どうぞ is for offering. If you want to ask for water, say 水をください, not どうぞ水をください.
- Is it okay to say just お願い?Yes, with friends or family. With strangers or at work, use the full polite form お願いします.