[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-article-local-please-in-japanese":3,"$fHZsWYl_LcdVZ5GxKwtR-ZqvCZbbUdo2_Fi6R_GQKiQM":4,"blog-article-cms-please-in-japanese":6,"article-hreflang-please-in-japanese":968,"blog-article-related-please-in-japanese":969},null,{"approximate_member_count":5},20275,{"id":7,"documentId":8,"title":9,"description":10,"timestampUnix":11,"slug":12,"h1":13,"image":14,"tags":20,"lang":3,"body":25,"createdAt":962,"updatedAt":963,"publishedAt":964,"category":965,"featured":966,"timestamp":967,"locale":-1,"_dir":965},1723,"uscal9lh5awpfjxt26ak40qa","How to Say Please in Japanese: Kudasai vs Onegaishimasu","Say please in Japanese with kudasai, onegaishimasu, and douzo. Understand when to use each form based on context and formality level.","1767220620000","please-in-japanese","How to Say Please in Japanese: Kudasai vs Onegaishimasu for Polite Requests",{"alt":15,"src":16,"width":17,"height":18,"previewOnly":19},"Using please correctly - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002FScreenshot_2026_01_07_024600_c3e92a721d\u002FScreenshot_2026_01_07_024600_c3e92a721d.png",1000,374,false,[21,22,23,24],"fundamentals","vocabulary","phrases","grammar",{"data":26,"body":29,"toc":946},{"title":27,"description":28},"","Here's the thing about how to say please when learning Japanese: there's actually no single word that directly translates to the English \"please.\" I know that sounds confusing at first, but stick with me here. When you're learning Japanese, one of the first things you'll notice is that context matters way more than in English. The word you use for \"please\" depends on what you're asking for, who you're talking to, and whether you're making a request, offering something, or asking for a favor. Pretty cool how much nuance gets packed into these expressions, right?",{"type":30,"children":31},"root",[32,51,55,59,66,71,78,91,96,136,150,164,215,220,226,237,257,262,329,339,344,350,355,360,426,431,437,451,456,494,499,502,508,513,518,523,544,555,558,564,569,574,583,588,607,612,617,620,626,631,640,684,692,727,735,754,762,798,803,806,812,840,845,852,857,860,866,873,876,893,896,912,915,921,926,941],{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":35,"children":36},"element","p",{},[37,40,49],{"type":38,"value":39},"text","Here's the thing about how to say please when ",{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":42,"children":46},"a",{"href":43,"rel":44},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Flearn-japanese",[45],"nofollow",[47],{"type":38,"value":48},"learning Japanese",{"type":38,"value":50},": there's actually no single word that directly translates to the English \"please.\" I know that sounds confusing at first, but stick with me here. When you're learning Japanese, one of the first things you'll notice is that context matters way more than in English. The word you use for \"please\" depends on what you're asking for, who you're talking to, and whether you're making a request, offering something, or asking for a favor. Pretty cool how much nuance gets packed into these expressions, right?",{"type":33,"tag":52,"props":53,"children":54},"toc",{},[],{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":57,"children":58},"hr",{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":61,"children":63},"h2",{"id":62},"the-main-ways-to-say-please-in-japanese",[64],{"type":38,"value":65},"The main ways to say please in Japanese",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":67,"children":68},{},[69],{"type":38,"value":70},"Let me break down the most common ways you'll express \"please\" when speaking Japanese. Each one has its own specific use case, and mixing them up can sound pretty awkward to native speakers.",{"type":33,"tag":72,"props":73,"children":75},"h3",{"id":74},"kudasai-ください-the-go-to-for-direct-requests",[76],{"type":38,"value":77},"Kudasai (ください): The go-to for direct requests",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":79,"children":80},{},[81,83,89],{"type":38,"value":82},"ください is probably the first word you'll learn for making polite requests in Japanese. You'll use this when you want someone to give you something or do something for you. The word comes from the verb ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":85,"children":88},"typo",{"lang":86,"syntax":87},"ja","下[くだ;k3]さる",[],{"type":38,"value":90},", which is an honorific form meaning \"to give.\"",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":92,"children":93},{},[94],{"type":38,"value":95},"Here's how it works in practice. When you want to ask for something at a restaurant, you'd say the item name followed by kudasai. For example:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":98,"children":99},"ol",{},[100,120],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":102,"children":103},"li",{},[104,108,110,114],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":105,"children":107},{"lang":86,"syntax":106},"水[みず;h] ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},"\n。\n",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":112,"children":113},"br",{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":116,"children":117},"em",{},[118],{"type":38,"value":119},"Water, please.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":121,"children":122},{},[123,127,128,131],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":124,"children":126},{"lang":86,"syntax":125},"これ[;a] ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":129,"children":130},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":132,"children":133},{},[134],{"type":38,"value":135},"This one, please.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":137,"children":138},{},[139,141,148],{"type":38,"value":140},"The ",{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":142,"children":145},{"href":143,"rel":144},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-word-order-basic-to-advanced-guide",[45],[146],{"type":38,"value":147},"sentence structure",{"type":38,"value":149}," flips from what you'd say in English. Instead of \"please give me water,\" you literally say \"water please give.\" This pattern holds true for pretty much all Japanese requests.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":151,"children":152},{},[153,155,162],{"type":38,"value":154},"You can also attach kudasai to ",{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":156,"children":159},{"href":157,"rel":158},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-verb-stems-guide",[45],[160],{"type":38,"value":161},"verb stems",{"type":38,"value":163}," to ask someone to do something:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":165,"children":166},{},[167,183,199],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":168,"children":169},{},[170,174,175,178],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":171,"children":173},{"lang":86,"syntax":172},"待[ま,まつ;k1]って ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":176,"children":177},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":179,"children":180},{},[181],{"type":38,"value":182},"Please wait.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":184,"children":185},{},[186,190,191,194],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":187,"children":189},{"lang":86,"syntax":188},"来[く,くる;k1]て ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":192,"children":193},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":195,"children":196},{},[197],{"type":38,"value":198},"Please come.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":200,"children":201},{},[202,206,207,210],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":203,"children":205},{"lang":86,"syntax":204},"教[おし,おしえる;h]えて ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":208,"children":209},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":211,"children":212},{},[213],{"type":38,"value":214},"Please teach me\u002FPlease tell me.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":216,"children":217},{},[218],{"type":38,"value":219},"I use this construction all the time when I'm in Japan. It's polite enough for most everyday situations without being overly formal. You can use it with shopkeepers, coworkers, people you've just met, and pretty much anyone you'd normally be polite to.",{"type":33,"tag":72,"props":221,"children":223},{"id":222},"onegaishimasu-お願いします-the-most-polite-option",[224],{"type":38,"value":225},"Onegaishimasu (お願いします): The most polite option",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":227,"children":228},{},[229,231,235],{"type":38,"value":230},"The phrase ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":232,"children":234},{"lang":86,"syntax":233},"お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":236}," is the heavyweight champion of polite requests in Japanese. This phrase literally means \"I humbly ask\" or \"I make a request,\" and it carries a lot more formality than kudasai.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":238,"children":239},{},[240,242,246,248,255],{"type":38,"value":241},"You'll hear onegaishimasu constantly in Japanese daily life. When you hand your credit card to a cashier, when you ask someone for help, when you're making any kind of formal request, this is your word. The phrase comes from ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":243,"children":245},{"lang":86,"syntax":244},"お願[おねが;h]い",[],{"type":38,"value":247},", which means \"request\" or \"favor,\" combined with します, the ",{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":249,"children":252},{"href":250,"rel":251},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-keigo-honorific-language-guide",[45],[253],{"type":38,"value":254},"polite form",{"type":38,"value":256}," of \"to do.\"",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":258,"children":259},{},[260],{"type":38,"value":261},"Here are some common situations where you'd use onegaishimasu:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":263,"children":264},{},[265,287,308],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":266,"children":267},{},[268,270,273,277,279,282],{"type":38,"value":269},"At a restaurant when ordering: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":271,"children":272},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":274,"children":276},{"lang":86,"syntax":275},"コーヒー[;n3] お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":278},"。",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":280,"children":281},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":283,"children":284},{},[285],{"type":38,"value":286},"Coffee, please.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":288,"children":289},{},[290,292,295,299,300,303],{"type":38,"value":291},"When asking for help: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":293,"children":294},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":296,"children":298},{"lang":86,"syntax":297},"助[す,すける]けて お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":278},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":301,"children":302},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":304,"children":305},{},[306],{"type":38,"value":307},"Please help me.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":309,"children":310},{},[311,313,316,320,321,324],{"type":38,"value":312},"When making a business request: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":314,"children":315},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":317,"children":319},{"lang":86,"syntax":318},"よろしく[;h] お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":278},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":322,"children":323},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":325,"children":326},{},[327],{"type":38,"value":328},"Please treat me favorably\u002FPlease take care of this.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":330,"children":331},{},[332,334,337],{"type":38,"value":333},"The shortened form ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":335,"children":336},{"lang":86,"syntax":244},[],{"type":38,"value":338}," works in casual situations with friends or people younger than you. You might say \"Onegai!\" when asking a friend for a small favor, kind of like saying \"Please!\" in English with that slightly pleading tone.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":340,"children":341},{},[342],{"type":38,"value":343},"What makes onegaishimasu so useful is its versatility. You can use it in almost any situation where you need to be polite, and you'll never sound rude. When I'm unsure which expression to use, I default to onegaishimasu because it's the safer choice.",{"type":33,"tag":72,"props":345,"children":347},{"id":346},"douzo-どうぞ-when-youre-offering-something",[348],{"type":38,"value":349},"Douzo (どうぞ): When you’re offering something",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":351,"children":352},{},[353],{"type":38,"value":354},"どうぞ is the word you use when you're inviting someone to do something or offering them something. Think of it as \"please\" in the sense of \"please, go ahead\" or \"please, help yourself.\"",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":356,"children":357},{},[358],{"type":38,"value":359},"You'll use douzo in situations like:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":361,"children":362},{},[363,384,405],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":364,"children":365},{},[366,368,371,375,376,379],{"type":38,"value":367},"Holding a door open for someone: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":369,"children":370},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":372,"children":374},{"lang":86,"syntax":373},"どうぞ[;a]",[],{"type":38,"value":278},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":377,"children":378},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":380,"children":381},{},[382],{"type":38,"value":383},"Please, after you.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":385,"children":386},{},[387,389,392,396,397,400],{"type":38,"value":388},"Offering someone food: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":390,"children":391},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":393,"children":395},{"lang":86,"syntax":394},"どうぞ[;a] 食[た,たべる;k2]べて ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":278},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":398,"children":399},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":401,"children":402},{},[403],{"type":38,"value":404},"Please eat.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":406,"children":407},{},[408,410,413,417,418,421],{"type":38,"value":409},"Inviting someone to sit: ",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":411,"children":412},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":414,"children":416},{"lang":86,"syntax":415},"どうぞ[;a] 座[すわ,すわる;h]って ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":278},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":419,"children":420},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":422,"children":423},{},[424],{"type":38,"value":425},"Please sit down.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":427,"children":428},{},[429],{"type":38,"value":430},"Sometimes you'll hear douzo used by itself, especially when handing something to someone or gesturing for them to go first. It's a simple, polite way to show consideration.",{"type":33,"tag":72,"props":432,"children":434},{"id":433},"choudai-ちょうだい-the-casual-alternative",[435],{"type":38,"value":436},"Choudai (ちょうだい): The casual alternative",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":438,"children":439},{},[440,442,449],{"type":38,"value":441},"ちょうだい is the informal, friendly version of kudasai. You'd only use this with close friends, ",{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":443,"children":446},{"href":444,"rel":445},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-family-words-complete-guide",[45],[447],{"type":38,"value":448},"family members",{"type":38,"value":450},", or people younger than you. Kids use choudai all the time, and it has a softer, less formal feel than kudasai.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":452,"children":453},{},[454],{"type":38,"value":455},"For example:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":457,"children":458},{},[459,477],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":460,"children":461},{},[462,466,467,470,475],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":463,"children":465},{"lang":86,"syntax":464},"水[みず;h] ちょうだい[;n3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":468,"children":469},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":471,"children":472},{},[473],{"type":38,"value":474},"Gimme some water.",{"type":38,"value":476},"\n (Casual)\n",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":478,"children":479},{},[480,484,485,488,493],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":481,"children":483},{"lang":86,"syntax":482},"それ[;a] ちょうだい[;n3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":486,"children":487},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":489,"children":490},{},[491],{"type":38,"value":492},"Give me that.",{"type":38,"value":476},{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":495,"children":496},{},[497],{"type":38,"value":498},"I wouldn't recommend using choudai until you're pretty comfortable with Japanese social dynamics. Using it with the wrong person can come across as overly familiar or even rude.",{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":500,"children":501},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":503,"children":505},{"id":504},"understanding-the-cultural-context",[506],{"type":38,"value":507},"Understanding the cultural context",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":509,"children":510},{},[511],{"type":38,"value":512},"The Japanese language builds politeness into its grammar in ways that English just doesn't. When you're making a request in Japanese, you're constantly thinking about your relationship to the other person and the social context.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":514,"children":515},{},[516],{"type":38,"value":517},"Japanese culture places huge emphasis on respect and hierarchy. The language reflects this through different levels of formality, honorific prefixes, and entirely different vocabulary depending on who you're talking to. This means that \"please\" changes based on whether you're talking to your boss, a stranger, a friend, or a family member.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":519,"children":520},{},[521],{"type":38,"value":522},"The honorific prefix お or ご often gets added to nouns to show respect. You'll see this in words like:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":524,"children":525},{},[526,535],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":527,"children":528},{},[529,533],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":530,"children":532},{"lang":86,"syntax":531},"お茶[おちゃ;h]",[],{"type":38,"value":534},"\n - Tea (Literally \"honorable tea\")\n",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":536,"children":537},{},[538,542],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":539,"children":541},{"lang":86,"syntax":540},"ご飯[ごはん;a]",[],{"type":38,"value":543},"\n - Rice\u002FMeal (With honorific prefix)\n",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":545,"children":546},{},[547,549,553],{"type":38,"value":548},"When you combine these honorific forms with your request words, you're layering politeness on top of politeness. For instance, ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":550,"children":552},{"lang":86,"syntax":551},"お茶[おちゃ;h] ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":554}," sounds more polite than just \"Cha kudasai\" would.",{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":556,"children":557},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":559,"children":561},{"id":560},"sentence-structure-differences-you-need-to-know",[562],{"type":38,"value":563},"Sentence structure differences you need to know",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":565,"children":566},{},[567],{"type":38,"value":568},"English and Japanese handle requests in fundamentally different ways. In English, we typically say \"Please give me X\" or \"Can I have X, please?\" The word \"please\" can go at the beginning or end of the sentence.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":570,"children":571},{},[572],{"type":38,"value":573},"Japanese flips this around. The basic pattern is:",{"type":33,"tag":575,"props":576,"children":577},"blockquote",{},[578],{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":579,"children":580},{},[581],{"type":38,"value":582},"Object\u002FAction + Request word",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":584,"children":585},{},[586],{"type":38,"value":587},"So you'd say:",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":589,"children":590},{},[591,599],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":592,"children":593},{},[594,596],{"type":38,"value":595},"Water + please give = ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":597,"children":598},{"lang":86,"syntax":106},[],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":600,"children":601},{},[602,604],{"type":38,"value":603},"Wait + please do = ",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":605,"children":606},{"lang":86,"syntax":172},[],{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":608,"children":609},{},[610],{"type":38,"value":611},"The request word always comes at the end. You can add other elements to make the sentence more polite or specific, but this basic structure stays consistent.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":613,"children":614},{},[615],{"type":38,"value":616},"Another key difference: Japanese often drops the subject of the sentence when it's obvious from context. You don't need to say \"I\" or \"me\" in most requests because it's understood that you're the one asking. This makes Japanese sentences shorter and more direct than their English equivalents.",{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":618,"children":619},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":621,"children":623},{"id":622},"practical-examples-for-real-situations",[624],{"type":38,"value":625},"Practical examples for real situations",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":627,"children":628},{},[629],{"type":38,"value":630},"Let me give you some real-world scenarios so you can see how these words actually get used:",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":632,"children":633},{},[634],{"type":33,"tag":635,"props":636,"children":637},"strong",{},[638],{"type":38,"value":639},"At a restaurant:",{"type":33,"tag":641,"props":642,"children":643},"ul",{},[644,667],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":645,"children":646},{},[647,651,652,655],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":648,"children":650},{"lang":86,"syntax":649},"すみません[;n4]{、}メニュー[;a] ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":653,"children":654},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":656,"children":657},{},[658,665],{"type":33,"tag":41,"props":659,"children":662},{"href":660,"rel":661},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku.com\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fexcuse-me-in-japanese",[45],[663],{"type":38,"value":664},"Excuse me",{"type":38,"value":666},", menu please.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":668,"children":669},{},[670,674,675,678,682],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":671,"children":673},{"lang":86,"syntax":672},"お 水[みず;h] お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":676,"children":677},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":679,"children":680},{},[681],{"type":38,"value":119},{"type":38,"value":683},"\n (More formal)\n",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":685,"children":686},{},[687],{"type":33,"tag":635,"props":688,"children":689},{},[690],{"type":38,"value":691},"Shopping:",{"type":33,"tag":641,"props":693,"children":694},{},[695,711],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":696,"children":697},{},[698,702,703,706],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":699,"children":701},{"lang":86,"syntax":700},"これ[;a] 三[みっ;o]つ ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":704,"children":705},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":707,"children":708},{},[709],{"type":38,"value":710},"Three of these, please.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":712,"children":713},{},[714,718,719,722],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":715,"children":717},{"lang":86,"syntax":716},"袋[ふくろ;o] お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":720,"children":721},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":723,"children":724},{},[725],{"type":38,"value":726},"A bag, please.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":728,"children":729},{},[730],{"type":33,"tag":635,"props":731,"children":732},{},[733],{"type":38,"value":734},"Asking for directions:",{"type":33,"tag":641,"props":736,"children":737},{},[738],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":739,"children":740},{},[741,745,746,749],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":742,"children":744},{"lang":86,"syntax":743},"すみません[;n4]{、}駅[えき;a] は どこ[;a] です[;a] か{?}教[おし,おしえる;h]えて ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":747,"children":748},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":750,"children":751},{},[752],{"type":38,"value":753},"Excuse me, where is the station? Please tell me.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":755,"children":756},{},[757],{"type":33,"tag":635,"props":758,"children":759},{},[760],{"type":38,"value":761},"Offering something:",{"type":33,"tag":641,"props":763,"children":764},{},[765,783],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":766,"children":767},{},[768,772,773,776,781],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":769,"children":771},{"lang":86,"syntax":770},"どうぞ[;a]{、}食[た,たべる;k2]べて ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":774,"children":775},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":777,"children":778},{},[779],{"type":38,"value":780},"Please, eat.",{"type":38,"value":782},"\n (Offering food)\n",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":784,"children":785},{},[786,790,791,794],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":787,"children":789},{"lang":86,"syntax":788},"どうぞ[;a] お 座[すわ,すわる;h]り ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":109},{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":792,"children":793},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":795,"children":796},{},[797],{"type":38,"value":425},{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":799,"children":800},{},[801],{"type":38,"value":802},"Notice how the level of formality shifts based on the situation and what you're requesting. You'd use more formal language when asking for help with directions than when ordering water at a casual restaurant.",{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":804,"children":805},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":807,"children":809},{"id":808},"tips-for-learning-to-use-please-correctly",[810],{"type":38,"value":811},"Tips for learning to use please correctly",{"type":33,"tag":97,"props":813,"children":814},{},[815,820,825,830,835],{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":816,"children":817},{},[818],{"type":38,"value":819},"The best way to get comfortable with these expressions is through exposure to real Japanese. Watch how native speakers use kudasai versus onegaishimasu in different situations. Pay attention to the context, the relationship between speakers, and the formality of the setting.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":821,"children":822},{},[823],{"type":38,"value":824},"When you're starting out, it's totally fine to stick with kudasai and onegaishimasu for most situations. These two will cover probably 90% of your needs. As you get more comfortable with the language, you'll naturally pick up on when to use the other forms.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":826,"children":827},{},[828],{"type":38,"value":829},"Practice the sentence patterns until they feel automatic. The object + kudasai pattern is so common that you'll use it multiple times every day once you're actually speaking Japanese. Get it into your muscle memory early.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":831,"children":832},{},[833],{"type":38,"value":834},"Don't stress too much about making mistakes. Japanese people generally appreciate when foreigners make an effort to speak their language politely. Even if you mix up kudasai and onegaishimasu occasionally, people will understand what you mean and respect your effort to be polite.",{"type":33,"tag":101,"props":836,"children":837},{},[838],{"type":38,"value":839},"One thing that really helped me was creating mental categories for each word. I think of kudasai as my \"everyday polite\" word, onegaishimasu as my \"extra polite\" word, douzo as my \"offering\" word, and choudai as my \"friends only\" word. This simple categorization makes it easier to choose the right word quickly in conversation.",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":841,"children":842},{},[843],{"type":38,"value":844},"If you want to actually practice using these expressions with real Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words and phrases instantly while watching shows or reading articles. You can see how native speakers use kudasai and onegaishimasu in actual conversations, which beats memorizing textbook examples any day. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.",{"type":33,"tag":846,"props":847,"children":851},"img",{"src":848,"width":849,"height":17,"alt":850},"https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002F3_screens_purple_2_9bb1da2f6a\u002F3_screens_purple_2_9bb1da2f6a.png",1620,"Learn Japanese with Migaku",[],{"type":33,"tag":853,"props":854,"children":856},"prose-button",{"href":855,"text":850},"\u002Flearn-japanese",[],{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":858,"children":859},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":861,"children":863},{"id":862},"faqs",[864],{"type":38,"value":865},"FAQs",{"type":33,"tag":867,"props":868,"children":870},"accordion",{"heading":869},"What is please in Japanese hiragana?",[871],{"type":38,"value":872},"\nThe most common ways to write \"please\" in hiragana are:ください, おねがいします, どうぞ.\n",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":874,"children":875},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":867,"props":877,"children":879},{"heading":878},"Can I have tea please in Japanese?",[880,882,885,887,891],{"type":38,"value":881},"\nYou'd say \n",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":883,"children":884},{"lang":86,"syntax":551},[],{"type":38,"value":886},"\n or \n",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":888,"children":890},{"lang":86,"syntax":889},"お茶[おちゃ;h] お願[おねが;h]い し[,する;h]ます",[],{"type":38,"value":892},"\n. Both work perfectly fine at a restaurant or cafe. The onegaishimasu version sounds slightly more formal.\n",{"type":33,"tag":111,"props":894,"children":895},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":867,"props":897,"children":899},{"heading":898},"Can I have one please in Japanese?",[900,904,906,910],{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":901,"children":903},{"lang":86,"syntax":902},"一[ひと;n2]つ ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":905},"\n means \"One, please.\" You'll use this all the time when shopping or ordering. If you're pointing at something specific, you could also say \n",{"type":33,"tag":84,"props":907,"children":909},{"lang":86,"syntax":908},"これ[;a] 一[ひと;n2]つ ください[,くださる;k3]",[],{"type":38,"value":911},"\n, which means \"One of this, please.\"\n",{"type":33,"tag":56,"props":913,"children":914},{},[],{"type":33,"tag":60,"props":916,"children":918},{"id":917},"basic-please-expressions-can-help-you-make-better-connections",[919],{"type":38,"value":920},"Basic please expressions can help you make better connections",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":922,"children":923},{},[924],{"type":38,"value":925},"Using these words correctly makes a real difference in how people respond to you. When you walk into a shop in Japan and say \"Sumimasen, kore kudasai\" with proper pronunciation and appropriate politeness, you'll get much better service than if you just point and grunt. Language learning is about communication, and polite communication opens doors. Even if you're not heading to Japan any time soon, you can still expand your vocabulary collection by consuming media!",{"type":33,"tag":575,"props":927,"children":928},{},[929],{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":930,"children":931},{},[932,934,939],{"type":38,"value":933},"If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. ",{"type":33,"tag":115,"props":935,"children":936},{},[937],{"type":38,"value":938},"Period",{"type":38,"value":940},".",{"type":33,"tag":34,"props":942,"children":943},{},[944],{"type":38,"value":945},"Politeness costs nothing and gains everything.",{"title":27,"searchDepth":947,"depth":947,"links":948},2,[949,956,957,958,959,960,961],{"id":62,"depth":947,"text":65,"children":950},[951,953,954,955],{"id":74,"depth":952,"text":77},3,{"id":222,"depth":952,"text":225},{"id":346,"depth":952,"text":349},{"id":433,"depth":952,"text":436},{"id":504,"depth":947,"text":507},{"id":560,"depth":947,"text":563},{"id":622,"depth":947,"text":625},{"id":808,"depth":947,"text":811},{"id":862,"depth":947,"text":865},{"id":917,"depth":947,"text":920},"2025-12-31T22:37:53.198Z","2026-01-07T03:23:42.947Z","2026-01-07T03:23:42.975Z","japanese",0,"December 31, 2025",[],[970,984,997],{"id":971,"documentId":972,"slug":973,"category":965,"lang":3,"title":974,"description":975,"image":976,"tags":980,"timestampUnix":983,"featured":19},6138,"t4kyrojag773t50kom5plzgu","japanese-writing-systems-explained","Japanese Writing Systems Explained: Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji","Learn the three Japanese writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Understand their origins, usage, and which to learn first for reading Japanese.",{"alt":977,"src":978,"width":17,"height":979,"previewOnly":19},"The three Japanese writing systems explained - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002FJapanese_Writing_System_d6c8fa4b_d6c0_4e29_b016_423f201c4ca2_7c98c01af0\u002FJapanese_Writing_System_d6c8fa4b_d6c0_4e29_b016_423f201c4ca2_7c98c01af0.jpg",1053,[21,981,982],"culture","deepdive","1776272460000",{"id":985,"documentId":986,"slug":987,"category":965,"lang":3,"title":988,"description":989,"image":990,"tags":994,"timestampUnix":996,"featured":19},5900,"f2o45r1q13caqr4rlq02jhhl","japanese-alphabet-guide-hiragana-katakana-kanji","Japanese Alphabet Guide: Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji Explained","Learn how the Japanese alphabet actually works. Complete guide to hiragana, katakana, and kanji with practical tips for mastering Japanese writing systems.",{"alt":991,"src":992,"width":17,"height":993,"previewOnly":19},"Understanding the Japanese writing system - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002FScreenshot_2026_04_13_014615_3eddd837e9\u002FScreenshot_2026_04_13_014615_3eddd837e9.png",626,[21,995,24],"pronunciation","1776027660000",{"id":998,"documentId":999,"slug":1000,"category":965,"lang":3,"title":1001,"description":1002,"image":1003,"tags":1007,"timestampUnix":1008,"featured":19},5846,"q6j9qy3whoetrn9x84kd4wkl","japanese-weather-phrases-daily-conversation","Japanese Weather Phrases for Daily Conversation","Learn common Japanese weather phrases for everyday conversations. Master essential vocabulary like sunny, rainy, and temperature descriptions with examples.",{"alt":1004,"src":1005,"width":17,"height":1006,"previewOnly":19},"Common Japanese weather phrases for daily conversation - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002F890940_ea2b811b0b\u002F890940_ea2b811b0b.jpg",800,[22,23],"1775617200000"]