お願いします・
お願いします is "please": you ask for something with it, and you say yes to an offer with it. よろしくお願いします is what you say when you meet someone, and after asking them for something.
meeting someone
How do you do. I'm Smith. Nice to meet you.
Asking
Noun + を + お願いします
水をお願いします. In conversation the を often drops.
As a question
… + お願いできますか
"Could I ask you to…?"
お願いします or ください?
| You want | ください | お願いします |
|---|---|---|
| A thing | 水を | 水を |
| An action | 待ってください, after a verb | サインを |
| A place to go, a way to pay | Not possible | 駅まで |
For a thing, both are natural, and お願いします is a little softer.
Asking for something
In a café or a shop you name the thing and add お願いします. It also works when there is no thing to hand over.
Two coffees, please.
Sorry, once more, please.
Asking for something to be done
When the noun names an action, をお願いします asks for it to be done. Staff say it to you, and it is an everyday way to ask at work.
With a verb, "please do" is てください. お願いします doesn't take its place.
Not said: もう
(Please say that once more.)
もう一度言ってください, or with no verb, もう一度お願いします.
Saying yes to an offer
When someone offers to do something for you, お願いします is the yes. To turn the offer down: いいえ、大丈夫です.
Shall I make tea?
Thank you. Yes, please.
よろしくお願いします
English has no one phrase for it. It asks the other person to be good to you, or to take good care of what you have asked for. People say it on meeting someone, at the start of a lesson or a job, and after a request.
after asking for something
Well then, thank you in advance.
お願いいたします is the same phrase, one step more formal: business email, and staff to customers.
Asking a favor: お願いできますか
お願いします expects a yes. A favor is usually asked as a question: お願いできますか.
Excuse me, a photo, please.
You expect a yes.
Excuse me, could I ask you to take a photo?
You are asking. Right for a stranger, who can say no.
Close neighbours
Check yourself
1You are in a taxi. Which one fits?
ホテルまで
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one is right?
Choose an answer to see why.
3The classroom is hot, and a classmate says this. You would like her to. What do you answer?
窓を
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With friends
Friends say お願い for "please", and よろしく or よろしくね for the greeting.
Give me a hand for a second. Please!
お願いがあります
お願い is also a noun, "a favor".
I have a favor to ask. Is now a good time?
In email
In email you will also see it with more kanji: 宜しくお願い致します.
More sentences
Some water, please.
handing over a parcel at the post office
This, please.
to a teacher, before a lesson
I'm looking forward to today's lesson.
at New Year
I look forward to another year with you.