よろしくお願いします

• 読み: よろしくおねがいします
• ローマ字: yoroshiku onegai shimasu
• 発音: /jo.ɾo.ɕi.kɯ.o.ne.ɡa.i.ɕi.ma.sɯ/

意味

Please take care of it / Nice to meet you / I look forward to working with you — one of the most important Japanese social phrases.

よろしくお願いします is untranslatable in a single English phrase because it covers so many social functions: self-introductions, requests, closing business emails, expressing hope for a good working relationship, and asking for someone's cooperation. It is the social glue of Japanese interpersonal relationships, conveying humility, respect, and mutual obligation all at once.

例文

1. 初めまして、田中と申します。よろしくお願いします。
2. この件、よろしくお願いします。
3. 今後ともよろしくお願いします。

使い方ガイド

場面: self-introductions, business, requests, email closings, daily life

トーン: respectful, humble, polite

正しい言い方

• はじめまして、よろしくお願いします (Nice to meet you, pleased to make your acquaintance)
• ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いします (I would appreciate your confirmation on this)

避ける言い方

• 英語で直訳しようとしない — 状況に応じて訳が変わる (Don't try to directly translate this to English — the translation changes depending on the situation)

よくある間違い

• Thinking よろしくお願いします only means 'nice to meet you' — it has many more uses
• Not using it when closing business emails — it is expected as a standard closing

起源と歴史

From よろしく (yoroshiku, favourably/well) + お願いします (onegai shimasu, I request/please). Literally 'I request your favourable treatment.' Deeply embedded in Japanese social culture as a way to establish and maintain relationships.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional, centuries of usage

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Arguably the most important social phrase in the language. Its absence in English is often cited as the hardest thing to explain about Japanese culture.