お～ください

The pattern お～ください is a polite way to make a request, meaning "please do ~." It is more formal and respectful than the basic 〜～てください form, and is used in business settings, announcements, customer service, and when speaking to superiors or strangers.

Formation with verbs

The most common usage is お + verb stem (masu-stem) + ください.

This form elevates the listener by using honorific language (尊敬語). It is frequently heard in stores, on trains, at hotels, and in other service contexts.

Formation with nouns

Some nouns – especially those derived from verbs – can also be used in this pattern: お / ご + noun + ください.

ご is used with Sino-Japanese (漢語) words such as れんらく連絡、ちゅうい注意、かくにん確認, while お is used with native Japanese (和語) words such as でんわ電話、へんじ返事.

Comparison with ～てください

Both お～ください and ～てください express requests, but お～ください is significantly more polite and formal.

• すわってください座ってください – Please sit down. (polite but relatively casual)
• おすわりお座りください – Please have a seat. (formal and respectful)

Common set phrases

You will often encounter this pattern in fixed expressions:

• おはいり入りください – Please come in.
• おめしあがり召し上がりください – Please help yourself (to food/drink).
• ごゆっくりおすごし過ごしください – Please take your time and relax.
• ごちゅういご注意ください – Please be careful / Please note.