ませ

auxiliary verb

please (polite request)

Polite imperative form of ます, used after the -masu stem of honorific verbs to make a polite request or demand. Common in set phrases like いらっしゃいませ and ごめんくださいませ.

See also: ます

• いらっしゃいませ。

  Welcome (please come in).

• 少しょう々しょうお待まちくださいませ。

  Please wait a moment.

auxiliary verb

(polite greeting marker)

Used to increase the politeness of a greeting, often in fixed expressions. The まし variant is archaic and rarely encountered outside historical or very formal contexts.

• おやすみなさいませ。

  Good night.

• お帰かえりなさいませ。

  Welcome home.