By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The Japanese phrase お願いします (onegaishimasu) is a polite expression used when making requests, asking for favors, or expressing hope that something will be done. It literally comes from the verb 願う (negau), which means “to wish” or “to request.”
Common meanings include:
- Please (do something for me)
- I’d appreciate it
- Could you please…?
It’s often used in service settings, business, or formal interactions to politely ask for something.
💡 Example Sentences
- 水をお願いします。
Water, please. - これをお願いします。
This one, please. - 助けてください、お願いします！
Please help me! - どうぞよろしくお願いします。
I humbly ask for your favor / Nice to meet you (set phrase).
📝 Grammar Notes
- お願いします is the polite form of お願い (request) + します (to do).
- Used both independently and after a noun to make a polite request.
- Often interchangeable with ください, but お願いします is more polite or formal.
- Common in shops, restaurants, or when asking for services.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Translate into Japanese using お願いします
- Tea, please.
- This document, please.
- Please help me.
✔ Sample Answers:
- お茶をお願いします。
- この書類をお願いします。
- 助けてください、お願いします。
📚 Vocabulary List
- お願い（おねがい） – request
- します – to do (polite form)
- 水（みず） – water
- お茶（おちゃ） – tea
- 助ける（たすける） – to help
- 書類（しょるい） – document
🈷 Kanji List
- 願（ねが） – wish, request
- 助（たす） – help, assist
- 茶（ちゃ） – tea
- 水（みず） – water
- 書（しょ） – write
- 類（るい） – type, kind (as in document)
🔗 Related Expressions
- ください – please (more casual)
- どうぞよろしくお願いします – nice to meet you (set expression)
- 頼む（たのむ） – to ask/request (casual)
🧠 Summary
- Meaning: Please / I humbly request
- Usage: used to politely request something or someone’s help
- Level: Beginner / Essential Phrase
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
