How to Say Please in Japanese
Learn how to say please in Japanese. 'Onegaishimasu' (お願いします) and 'Kudasai' (ください) both mean please but are used differently. Pronunciation guide + when to use each.
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Quick answer
To say please in Japanese, the two main words are 'Onegaishimasu' (お願いします, oh-neh-gai-shee-mas) and 'Kudasai' (ください, koo-dah-sai). 'Kudasai' is used when asking for a specific item or action (attached after a noun or verb). 'Onegaishimasu' is more polite and used for requests, services, and favors. When in doubt, 'Onegaishimasu' is the safe, polite choice.
お願いします
/oh-neh-gai-shee-mas/ — Japanese
How to Say Please in Japanese
“Please” in Japanese isn’t one word — it’s two main ones, Onegaishimasu and Kudasai, used in different situations. Getting the distinction right makes your requests polite and natural.
The Two Words
| Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| お願いします | Onegaishimasu | oh-neh-gai-shee-mas |
| ください | Kudasai | koo-dah-sai |
Copy the Phrase
The Japanese word for “please” is お願いします (Onegaishimasu, oh-neh-gai-shee-mas) — or ください (Kudasai) when requesting a specific item.
Onegaishimasu vs. Kudasai
This is the key distinction:
Kudasai (ください) — requesting a specific thing or action:
- After a noun: Mizu o kudasai (water, please)
- After a verb (-te form): Matte kudasai (please wait)
- More direct
Onegaishimasu (お願いします) — broader, more polite:
- For requests, favors, services, ordering
- Kore o onegaishimasu (this one, please)
- More humble and polite
When in doubt, use Onegaishimasu — it’s the safe, polite choice for most requests.
Ordering Food & Making Requests
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 水をください | Mizu o kudasai | Water, please |
| コーヒーをください | Kōhī o kudasai | Coffee, please |
| これをお願いします | Kore o onegaishimasu | This one, please |
| メニューをお願いします | Menyū o onegaishimasu | Menu, please |
| 待ってください | Matte kudasai | Please wait |
| 助けてください | Tasukete kudasai | Please help me |
Pronunciation Notes
- Onegaishimasu — oh-neh-gai-shee-mas (the final “u” in -masu is nearly silent)
- Kudasai — koo-dah-sai (rhymes with “sigh”)
The near-silent final “u” in polite -masu endings is a hallmark of natural Japanese.
The Essential Phrase: Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu
One of the most important phrases in Japanese has no direct English equivalent:
よろしくお願いします Yoroshiku onegaishimasu Roughly: “Please treat me favorably / I look forward to working with you / Please take care of this.”
It’s said when:
- Meeting someone new
- Starting a project or job
- Asking for ongoing cooperation
It expresses humility and goodwill and is essential Japanese business and social etiquette. Learning this phrase alone signals real cultural awareness.
Onegaishimasu Is Bigger Than “Please”
Onegaishimasu (お願いします) relates to “I make a request/wish” and stretches further than English “please.” It can mean “I’m counting on you,” “please take care of this,” or politely open a transaction or favor — a versatile cornerstone of polite Japanese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Onegaishimasu and Kudasai?
'Kudasai' (ください) is used to request a specific thing or action — it attaches to a noun ('mizu o kudasai' = water please) or a verb in -te form ('matte kudasai' = please wait). 'Onegaishimasu' (お願いします) is more polite and broader — used for requests, asking favors, ordering, or services ('kore o onegaishimasu' = this one, please). Onegaishimasu is generally more polite and humble; kudasai is more direct.
How do you pronounce Onegaishimasu?
'Onegaishimasu' is pronounced oh-neh-gai-shee-mas (お願いします). Break it down: o-ne-gai-shi-ma-su. The final 'su' is barely voiced — it sounds like 'mas' (the 'u' is nearly silent), a common feature of polite -masu endings. 'Kudasai' is koo-dah-sai (ku-da-sai), with 'sai' rhyming with 'sigh.'
How do you order food in Japanese using please?
Use the item + 'o kudasai' or 'o onegaishimasu': 'Kōhī o kudasai' (coffee, please), 'Kore o onegaishimasu' (this one, please — pointing at a menu), 'Mizu o kudasai' (water, please), 'Sumimasen, menyū o onegaishimasu' (excuse me, menu please). 'Onegaishimasu' sounds a touch more polite for ordering; both are perfectly acceptable in restaurants.
Can Onegaishimasu mean more than please?
Yes — 'Onegaishimasu' (お願いします) literally relates to 'I make a request/wish' and is broader than English 'please.' It's said when asking for a favor, starting a transaction, requesting a service, and even as a polite 'I'm counting on you / please take care of this.' At the start of working with someone, 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu' means 'please treat me well / I look forward to working with you' — a key social phrase.
What does Yoroshiku onegaishimasu mean?
'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu' (よろしくお願いします) is a vital Japanese phrase with no direct English equivalent — roughly 'please treat me favorably,' 'I look forward to working with you,' or 'please take care of this.' It's said when meeting someone new, starting a project, or asking for ongoing cooperation. It expresses humility and goodwill, and is essential business and social etiquette in Japan.