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お願いします
onegaishimasu
please
この本をお願いします。
Please give me this book.
formal
A polite request or expression of a wish, often used when asking for a favor, service, or action.
手伝っていただけませんか？お願いします。
Could you help me? Please.
お水を一杯お願いします。
A glass of water, please.
Used in both spoken and written Japanese, typically with a deferential tone. Often follows a request or command to soften it.
Collocations
どうぞお願いしますplease (very polite)よろしくお願いしますthank you in advance / I look forward to working with you
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Politeness Level
The phrase 'お願いします' is polite but not overly formal. For more formality, use 'お願いしますませ' or '願います'. For casual situations, 'ください' may suffice.
Gold Rule
Request Softening
Always use 'お願いします' when making a request to sound polite and respectful, especially in service-oriented or customer-facing contexts.
Word Origin
Composed of 'お願い' (onegai, 'request' or 'favor') and 'します' (shimasu, 'to do'), forming a polite way to ask for something.
Usage Notes
The phrase is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from casual to highly formal situations. The level of politeness can be adjusted by changing the verb form (e.g., 'お願いします' vs. 'お願いしますませ').
Word Breakdown
お願い
request / favor
nounします
to do (polite form)
verb和英辞典