What is the difference between Kudasai and Onegai?

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.

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 ing 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?

Please [お願い] comes from the ideogram [願] which means desire, wish, request, and prayer. The word can literally mean request and desire, in addition to please. The shimasu is from verb to do what does it mean 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] which aims to be honorific and gives politeness to the word.

Please 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:

Kitte wo kudasai. Please give me a stamp. Please give me stamps.	Kitte (wo) onegaishimasu. Please give me a stamp. Please give me stamps.
Mizu wo kudasai. Please give me water. Water, please.	Mizu (wo) onegaishimasu. Water, please. 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.

Tokyo eki made onegaishimasu. Please take me to Tokyo Station.	Tokyo Station, please. (with a taxi driver)
Could you please make a reservation? Could you please make a reservation?	Can I make a reservation?
Kokusai denwa onegaishimasu. Please make an international call.	Phone call abroad, please. (on the phone)

(2) When asking to speak with someone on the phone:

Kazuko-san onegaishimasu. Wako-san, please.

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.

Please wait a moment. Please wait a moment.	Wait a moment please.
Please teach me Japanese. Please teach me Japanese.	Please teach me Japanese.
Ashita kite kudasai. Please come tomorrow.	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:

Onegai, watashi ni hanashite. Please, talk to me.	Please talk to me.
Onegai, shinanai de. Please, don't die.	Please don't die.
Nee, onegai. Hey, please.	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 onegaishimasu when requesting a service that you cannot fulfill;
• Use onegaishimasu when asking someone over the phone.
• In informal cases, you can just use "Onegai".
• Saying onegaishimasu is like saying: "I trust this to you";

ください (kudasai) é usado:

1. After the particle wo [を];
2. When requesting something that involves an action, along with the verb in the -te form [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