Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Please" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "please", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
お願いします
おねがいします (onegaishimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
おかけください
おかけください (okake kudasai)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "please" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between お願いします and おかけください.
In Japanese, お願いします (おねがいします (onegaishimasu)) is typically associated with "Please; I request; I beg of you" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A very versatile polite expression used to make requests, ask for a favor, or politely close a conversation when asking for something. Can also mean 'please take care of me/this'..
On the other hand, おかけください (おかけください (okake kudasai)) maps to "Please sit down (polite), Please hang up (phone, polite)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A very polite imperative form. Commonly used in customer service or public spaces to invite someone to sit. A literal translation of "please" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "お願いします"
助けてください、お願いします。
Please help me.
Bilingual Context for "おかけください"
どうぞこちらの椅子におかけください。
Please take a seat here.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "助けてください、 ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "Please help me.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "お願いします" fits here because it means "Please; I request; I beg of you" in the context of: "Please help me.". "おかけください" represents "Please sit down (polite), Please hang up (phone, polite)".