Japanese word

お願い

Pronunciation

Romajionegai

Meaning

  • nounfavor

Example

お母さんにお願いをしました。o haha sa n ni o nega i o shi ma shi ta

I asked my mom for a favor.

Illustration for お願い (favor)

More examples

宿題を手伝ってもらえるように、お母さんにお願いをしました。shuku dai o te tsuda tte mo ra e ru yō ni o haha sa n ni o nega i o shi ma shi ta

I asked my mom to help me with my homework.

Core concept

Expresses a wish or request that another person is asked to fulfill.

Common phrases

  • お願いをするo nega i o su ru

    make a request

  • お願いを聞くo nega i o ki ku

    grant a request

  • お願いを断るo nega i o kotowa ru

    turn down a request

Similar words

頼みtanomi: A request for help or support from another person.
依頼irai: A formal request for someone to perform a task or provide a service.

Definition in Japanese

相手に望みをかなえてほしいと伝えて頼むこと。ai te ni nozo mi o ka na e te ho shi i to tsuta e te tano mu ko to

Word origin

お願い (onegai, "request") is the noun form of 願う (negau, "to wish or ask") preceded by the honorific prefix お (o).

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, お願い (onegai) can stand alone as a brief plea, while お願いします (onegaishimasu) expresses the request more politely.

Other meanings

  • requestnoun
  • wishnoun

Word lists with this word