onegaishimas

[Fedgrub]

I am always getting confused about the simplest thing.

onegaishimas. Is it just to raise attention in general, or is there more to it? I notice it is used in a number of situations. But what is the core meaning of this? Might sound like a stupid question but I just can't find any common places it is used. It seems to be used for all different types of things! Its driving me crazy haha.

Sorry for the romaji, no japanese installed on this computer.

[Jake_Lucas]

You may be better waiting for other responses incase im wrong but i want to give this a stab anyway.

I think Onegai was a request or wish and shimasu is to do, so you are requesting, hence why it is used as please, or to get attention.

Very short go at an explanation from me, but i don't know too much about it myself

[jkid]

I'm having difficulty with my Japanese input at the moment so I too will be using romaji.

Onegai shimasu is difficult to directly translate. It is one of those Japanese phrases that can carry various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. My understanding of how it is formed is this: O is for honorific purposes nagai comes from the verb "nagau" meaning to wish for and shimasu as Jake_Lucas said means to do.

As it can carry so many meanings it is hard to help you out on this. Not sure if that really helps at all.

[Javizy]

Just to clear this up, 'o + masu-stem + suru' is a humble polite form, and isn't just limited to o-negai shimasu. Certain verbs have a separate humble form, e.g. morau › itadaku, miru › haiken, iu › mousu, but for those that don't, you use 'o + masu-stem + suru/itasu' to achieve the same level of humble politeness.

O-negai shimasu, though, is sort of a set expression used when you want something. Maybe somebody else could add some more examples, since that's probably the best way of understanding it, but here are a couple.

Koora o o-negai shimasu.
I'd like a Coke, please.

Kore o yakushite moraemasen ka?
Could I get you to translate this for me?
Sore wa chotto...
That could be a bit difficult...
O-negai shimasu!
Please (do it for me)!
Shikata ga nai desu ne.
I suppose I have no choice.

[Psy]

お願いします (since Fedgrub indicates he can read it) is not difficult to translate. We have a great word in English which covers many of its uses: "please." You can extend the meaning to things like "please do me a favor" or "I humbly ask." While situationally the Japanese may use it in places where English speakers may not, the meaning isn't the least bit slippery: you're politely asking a favor. ください is also a polite request, but it emphasizes more on the listener doing whereas お願いします focuses more on your asking... that and its grammatical function is different.

So that's the core meaning-- help out at all, Fedgrub?

[Bucko]

As others have pointed out, お願いします is the verb ねがう, to request/to ask, in its humble form. So it means "I humbly request (this favour of you)".

[jkid]

お願いします (since Fedgrub indicates he can read it) is not difficult to translate. We have a great word in English which covers many of its uses: "please." You can extend the meaning to things like "please do me a favor" or "I humbly ask." While situationally the Japanese may use it in places where English speakers may not, the meaning isn't the least bit slippery:

Fair enough. It seems I was wrong (as is often the case).

[Fedgrub]

Thanks for everyones replies, makes a lot more sense now. Yeah Psy, I can read it I just was not sure how adaptable it was, and what it means by itself and when paired with something, so thanks for everyones input!