Japanese for Kids
How to Say "Please" in Japanese
A magic word in every language. Adding 'please' shows respect and good manners.
In Japanese (日本語)
お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
Pronounced: oh-neh-gigh-shee-MAHS
What “Please” means and when to use it
The listed Japanese expression in this lesson is “お願いします (Onegaishimasu).” Its beginner pronunciation approximation is “oh-neh-gigh-shee-MAHS.” A magic word in every language. Adding 'please' shows respect and good manners. The approximation is a reading scaffold, not a replacement for the native writing or for listening to a speaker whose variety you are learning.
This courtesy word can soften a request, but languages do not always place or use a direct equivalent exactly as English does. The listed translation is valuable on its own for recognition and controlled practice. In real speech it often belongs inside a larger request whose grammar and level of formality matter. Because this lesson does not invent that larger sentence, an English scene prompt supplies the request and the learner contributes only the translated courtesy form. A calm voice matters as much as the word.
Do not assume every language uses please with the same frequency as English. Politeness may also be carried by verb forms, titles, particles, and context.
Japanese pronunciation workshop
Japanese timing is built from short, fairly even units called morae. Vowels are pure: a, i, u, e, o are roughly ah, ee, oo, eh, oh, though Japanese u is less rounded than English oo. Do not strongly stress one syllable as English often does. Long vowels and doubled consonants take extra time and can change meaning. The romanization in parentheses helps you segment the phrase, while the capitalized English approximation is only a memory aid and does not represent Japanese pitch accent.
Now apply those sound ideas specifically to “お願いします (Onegaishimasu).” Read the native form first, then use “oh-neh-gigh-shee-MAHS” to locate the broad sound sequence and emphasized syllable. Say the entire expression in one comfortable turn. Do not substitute English sounds more strongly merely because a letter looks familiar, and do not erase marks, accents, or characters when copying it.
Clap a gentle, even pulse and fit one kana-sized beat to each pulse. Repeat without making the capitalized part dramatically louder. If the phrase contains a long vowel, hold it for its full timing; if it contains a small pause before a consonant, leave that tiny space.
Respectful context across Japan
Japanese speech choices reflect relationship and situation. Many translations in this collection use polite forms suitable for a beginner, but friends and family may use shorter casual forms. Bowing varies in depth and purpose; a learner can use a small nod without performing an exaggerated bow. Names are often followed by an honorific, and interrupting less can signal attentiveness. These are tendencies, not a script for every Japanese person, so notice how the people around you speak and respond.
This lesson teaches one useful listed translation, not the only wording used by all Japanese speakers. Age, relationship, region, and situation can change a speaker's choice. A good learner notices those choices, asks respectfully when appropriate, and accepts correction without arguing that a phrase list must outrank a person's own language experience.
Practice activity: scene, speak, reflect
Set out picture cards for water, a pencil, a book, and help. Partner A points to a card while a facilitator reads an English request, then Partner A says the translated please. Partner B hands over the card. Partner A can then use the separately listed thank-you in a second turn. Complete five rounds, alternating roles and moving from the written phrase to memory. Ask learners why a demanding voice would not become polite merely by adding one word.
Use three passes. On pass one, read “お願いします (Onegaishimasu)” while a partner checks every word or character. On pass two, look only at the scene card and retrieve the expression from memory. On pass three, use an English scene prompt and deliver the Japanese speaking turn at a natural volume. Afterward, explain in English why the phrase fit that scene. This keeps meaning, respectful behavior, and pronunciation together instead of rewarding speed alone.
A successful attempt is understandable and considerate, not accent-free. Mark one detail you kept consistent—perhaps the stress, a long vowel, a tone direction, a final consonant, or the full word order—and choose one detail for another careful repetition. Stop before practice becomes rushed. Short, attentive rounds build a more reliable memory than saying the phrase many times without listening to yourself or your partner.
Practice dialogue
- Scene prompt (English)
- At a table, Learner A points to a water card that is within Learner B’s reach.
- Role-play cue (English)
- The facilitator supplies the English request “Pass the water,” and Learner A adds the target courtesy word.
- Japanese target speaking turn — Learner A
- お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
- Role-play reply/action (English) — Learner B
- Of course—here is the water.
- Japanese speaking turn — Learner A
- ありがとう (Arigatou)
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