お～ください (polite request)

• Reading: おください
• Romaji: o ~ kudasai
• Formation: お + Verb ます-stem + ください
• Kanji breakdown: 下さい (please give/do)

Meaning

A highly polite request form that wraps the verb ます-stem with the honorific prefix お and ください. It is the standard respectful way to ask someone to do something.

お + Vます-stem + ください is a formal request expression commonly heard in public announcements, customer service, and business settings. It is more polite than てください and shows deference toward the listener. For example, お座りください is more respectful than 座ってください. This form uses the honorific お for native Japanese verbs, while Sino-Japanese verbs take ご (e.g., ご連絡ください). The pattern should not be used for one's own actions, as it is inherently respectful toward the addressee. Some fixed expressions like お待ちください are extremely common in daily life.

Examples

1. こちらにお座りください。 Please have a seat here.
2. 少々お待ちください。 Please wait a moment.
3. どうぞお入りください。 Please come in.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, business, customer service, announcements

Tone: polite

Do Say

• お手数ですが、こちらにご記入ください。
• お気をつけてお帰りください。
• ご自由にお取りください。

Don't Say

• 自分でお書きください。(Awkward because お～ください is respectful toward the listener, but 自分で sounds dismissive) → こちらにご記入をお願いいたします。
• お食べください。(食べる does not naturally take this form; お召し上がりください is correct) → どうぞお召し上がりください。

Origin & History

Combines the honorific prefix お (from classical 御) with ください, the polite imperative of くださる (to give/bestow). This compound form became standard in the Edo period as polite society formalised keigo.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal