Both kudasai [ください] and onegaishimasu [お願いします] are used when making a request, and can be literally translated as "Please". But do you know the difference between the two? When should you use each one? In this article, we will answer this big question.
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What does kudasai mean?
The word kudasai [下さい] can be literally translated as please, give me, or do something for me. It can be used both to request specific things like objects or to ask someone for a favor.
Kudasai is the imperative (命令形) form of the verb Kudasaru, which is the humble form of describing someone giving something to you. As illustrated by the ideogram below [下], you are literally passing something down to someone. The verb can mean both give and receive.
The Japanese language has a construction where elastic verbs such as ageru, kureru, morau, sashiageru, kudasaru, and itadaku associated with the te [て] form mean to do something for the sake or benefit of someone.
What does onegai mean?
Onegai [お願い] comes from the ideogram [願] which means desire, vow, request and prayer. The word can literally mean request and desire, as well as please. O shimasu é do suru verb which means to do.
“Onegai” also derives from the verb “negau“ which literally means “to pray for (something)” or “to wish (for something)”. There is also the noun without the [お] that aims to be honorable and to give politeness to the word.
Onegai is most often used to ask for help in certain situations that involve interacting, learning, and communicating with another person.
In keeping with the kanji concept, it kind of establishes a plea, so that the other party doesn't feel obligated. In Japanese culture it is considered rude to ask or impose things, for that one needs to beg.
What is the difference between kudasai and onegai?
The phrases below can use both Onegai and Kudasai:
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| Kitte wo kudasai. 切手をください. Please give me stamps. | Kitte (wo) onegaishimasu. 切手(を)お願いします. Please give me stamps. |
| Mizu wo kudasai. 水をください. Water please. | Mizu (wo) onegaishimasu. 水(を)お願いします. Water please. |
The 2 situations can use any of the 2, it is noticed that it is not mandatory to use the wo particle when using onegai. However, there are some situations where only “onegaishimasu” is used.
(1) When asking to do some service.
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| Tokyo eki made onegaishimasu. 東京駅までお願いします。 | Tokyo Station, please. (with a taxi driver) |
| Yoyaku wo onegai dekimasu ka. 予約をお願いできますか。 | Can I make a reservation? |
| Kokusai denwa onegaishimasu. 国際電話お願いします。 | Phone call abroad, please. (on the phone) |
(2) When asking to speak with someone on the phone:
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| Kazuko-san onegaishimasu. 和子さんお願いします。 | Can I speak with Kazuko? |
In the verbs in the "te" form, when asking for an action (like: listen, speak, respond), "Kudasai" should be used; in these cases, onegai cannot be used.
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| Please wait a moment. ちょっと待ってください。 | Wait a moment please. |
| Please teach me Japanese. 日本語を教えてください。 | Please teach me Japanese. |
| Ashita kite kudasai. 明日来てください。 | Please come tomorrow. |
Onegai can be used together with a verb/action if it comes at the beginning of the sentence; in these cases, します (shimasu) is not used. See some examples below:
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| Onegai, watashi ni hanashite. お願い、私に話して。 | Please talk to me. |
| Onegai, shinanai de. お願い、死なないで。 | Please don't die. |
| Nee, onegai. ねえ、お願い。 | Hey, give it to me. |
From these examples we can conclude that:
お願いします (onegaishimasu) é usado:
- When we ask for things, the particle wo [を] is not necessary;
- When getting someone's attention; for example, a waiter/waitress;
- Use onegai shimasu when requesting a service that you cannot fulfill;
- Use onegai shimasu when asking someone over the phone;
- In informal cases, you can just use "Onegai".
- To say onegai shimasu it is as if you were saying: "I entrust this to you";
ください (kudasai) é usado:
- after the particle wo [を];
- When asking for something that involves an action, along with the verb in the form -you [て];
I hope this article has helped you understand the difference between saying kudasai and onegai. If you liked it, share and comment! You might also want to check out the 72 different ways to say thank you in Japanese.
Sources:japanese.about.com, japaneseverbconjugator, jisho.org