お～願う
Please, Could you please
Structure
ご + (Chinese Origin) Noun + 願う
(Western Origin) Noun + 願う
Explanation
The structure お～願う is a form of humble language used to make polite requests, much like お～ください 'please do (A)'. Following standard politeness conventions, お is typically prefixed to native Japanese words, whereas ご is used with words of Chinese origin (kango).
The verb 願う means 'to request' or 'to wish for'. A direct translation would be something like 'I request that you do (A)', which sounds overly formal in English. However, it effectively communicates the idea that you are asking someone to perform an action for your benefit.
- 順番になりましたら、こちらの部屋にお入り願います。When your turn comes, please enter this room.
- まもなく開演ですので、お席にお戻り願います。The performance will begin shortly, so please return to your seats.
- こちらのアンケートに、お名前とご住所をご記入願います。Please fill in your name and address on this questionnaire.
- 雨で床が滑りやすくなっておりますので、ご注意願います。The floor is slippery from the rain, so please watch your step.
Because this is a highly polite grammatical structure, you will almost exclusively encounter it in its formal ます-form, as お～願います.
Notably, when this structure is used with words of foreign origin written in katakana, both the お and ご prefixes are typically dropped. In these cases, 願う is attached directly to the word.
- お支払い方法を画面でタッチ願います。Please touch the screen to select your payment method.
Furthermore, お～願う can be conjugated into the potential form to create a polite question: お～願えますか. This is used to make a very courteous request, similar to asking 'Would it be possible for you to (A)?' or 'Could I have you (A)?'.
Caution
Since お～願う is a step above お～ください and てください in politeness, its use is generally restricted to formal situations like public announcements or written instructions. Using it in everyday conversation can sound unnatural or even sarcastic.
Examples
パスワードをご入力願います。
Please enter your password.
建物内での喫煙はご遠慮願います。
Please refrain from smoking inside the building.
あらかじめご了承願います。
We ask for your understanding in advance.
受付でお名前をお知らせ願います。
Please give your name at the reception desk.
皆様、お席にご着席願います。
Everyone, please take your seats.
詳しくは添付の資料をご参照願います。
For more details, please refer to the attached documents.
アンケートにご記入願います。
Please fill out the questionnaire.
料金は現金でお支払い願います。
Please pay the fee in cash.
貴重品はご自身でご管理願います。
Please look after your own valuables.
この機会にぜひご参加願います。
We hope you will take this opportunity to join us.
入口で身分証をご提示願えますでしょうか。
Could you please present your ID at the entrance?
これ以上の詮索はお控え願います。
Please refrain from any further inquiries.