Learn Difference Between Japanese Words "Kudasai" and "Onegaishimasu" (2023)

Languages ›Japanese

Both kudasai (ください）and onegaishimasu（お願いします) are Japanese words used when making a request for items. In many cases, these two Japanese words, which translate roughly as "please" or "please give me," are interchangeable. However, there are nuances associated with each word giving each a slightly different meaning. There are some situations whenit is more appropriate to use kudasaiinstead ofonegaishimasuand vice versa. Generally, deciding betweenkudasai andonegaishimasudepends on the social context.

How to Use Kudasai in a Sentence

Kudasai is a more familiar request word in Japanese. It is used when you are requesting something you know you are entitled to. For example, if you are requesting something from a friend, peer, or someone who is of lower status or social rank than you, you would use kudasai.

Grammatically, kudasai (ください）follows the object and the particle o (を).When o is placed after a noun, it indicates that the noun is the direct object. In the tables in this and subsequent sections, the Japanese phrase is listed first as it is spelled phonetically using English letters, followed by the word or phrase written inJapanese letters(called kanji, hiragana, and katakana), while the English translation is listed on the right.