Japanese has three words that cover English "please". Use ください (kudasai) to ask for something or ask someone to do something, お願いします (onegai shimasu) for a softer, more polite request, and どうぞ (dōzo) when offering: "please, go ahead" or "help yourself". They are not interchangeable.
- Asking for something
- ください (kudasai)
- Polite request
- お願いします (onegai shimasu)
- Offering
- どうぞ (dōzo)
- Please don't
- 〜ないでください (-naide kudasai)
- Level
- A1
What is the difference between kudasai, onegai shimasu and dōzo?
Ask who benefits. With ください and お願いします, you are requesting something for yourself. With どうぞ, you are offering something to the other person. Of the first two, お願いします sounds a little softer and is the usual choice when asking staff for a service.
| Japanese | Romaji | Direction | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ください | kudasai | Asking | これをください: "This one, please" |
| お願いします | onegai shimasu | Asking, softer | 駅までお願いします: "To the station, please" (in a taxi) |
| どうぞ | dōzo | Offering | "After you", "Go ahead", "Here you are" |
| 〜ていただけますか | -te itadakemasu ka | Asking, very polite | 教えていただけますか: "Could you tell me?" |
| ちょうだい | chōdai | Asking, casual | Within the family or with close friends |
How do you use kudasai in a sentence?
ください follows one of two patterns. After a noun and を, it means "please give me". After a verb in its te-form, it means "please do". Put ないで before it and the request becomes "please don't".
お水をください。
Omizu o kudasai.
Water, please.
窓を開けてください。
Mado o akete kudasai.
Please open the window.
開けて is the te-form of 開ける (akeru, to open).
もう一度言ってください。
Mō ichido itte kudasai.
Please say that again.
写真を撮らないでください。
Shashin o toranaide kudasai.
Please don't take photos.
A common wording on signs.
さくらは 「ちょっと 待って ください」 と 言って、 ホールの 中を 探した。Sakura wa "chotto matte kudasai" to itte, hōru no naka o sagashita.
When should you say onegai shimasu instead?
お願いします literally means "I make a request". It can follow a noun with no verb at all, which makes it ideal for ordering, shopping and services. It is also what you say when handing someone a task, a form or your ticket.
コーヒーをお願いします。
Kōhī o onegai shimasu.
A coffee, please.
お会計お願いします。
Okaikei onegai shimasu.
The bill, please.
よろしくお願いします。
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Nice to meet you / I'm counting on you.
Said when meeting someone or starting to work together; no single English equivalent.
お願い！
Onegai!
Please!
Pleading, to friends or family, when you really want something.
To go a step further than both, with a stranger in the street or a client, use the te-form plus いただけますか, as in 教えていただけますか (oshiete itadakemasu ka, "could you tell me?").
What mistakes do learners make with please in Japanese?
- Using ください to offer something. To offer, say どうぞ; ください always asks.
- Putting ください after the dictionary form. 待つください is wrong; it needs the te-form, 待ってください.
- Adding an extra word for please. A request ending in ください or お願いします is already polite.
- Using ください for a big favour from a boss or teacher. It is still a direct request; いただけますか or いただけませんか is the respectful choice.
Learners also reach for どうぞ after being thanked, but it only offers. For replies to thanks, see how to say you're welcome in Japanese.
Read a free Japanese series at A1 and tap every ください and お願いします you meet for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you say please when ordering food in Japanese?
Name the dish and add お願いします or ください: ラーメンをお願いします (rāmen o onegai shimasu). Pointing at the menu and saying これをください (kore o kudasai, "this, please") also works.
What does yoroshiku onegai shimasu mean?
It is a fixed phrase asking for someone's goodwill when you meet them, join a team or ask a favour. It is often translated "nice to meet you" or "I look forward to working with you", though neither covers it fully.
What does dōzo mean?
"Please, go ahead", "after you" or "here you are". It invites the other person to take, eat, sit or go first.
How do you say 'please help me' in Japanese?
手伝ってください (tetsudatte kudasai) asks for help with a task. In an emergency, people shout 助けて！ (tasukete!, "help!").