お～願う【お～ねがう】

The pattern お～願う is a formal and polite way to make a request, meaning "I ask that you…" or "please do…". It combines the honorific prefix お with the verb stem (or noun) and ねがう願う ("to request/wish"), creating a humble request directed at the listener.

This pattern is used in business Japanese, formal announcements, and polite written communication. It is more formal than ～てください and conveys a sense of earnest or respectful asking.

With verb stems

The most common usage attaches お to the masu-stem of a verb, followed by ねがう願う (or its polite forms ねがいます願います / ねがいたい願いたい).

With nouns – お願いする

When used with a noun, the most natural form is おねがいするお願いする or おねがいいたすお願いいたす (humble):

Common set phrases

Several fixed expressions use this pattern and appear frequently in daily formal Japanese:

• おねがいしますお願いします – the ubiquitous "please" used in countless situations - おねがいいたしますお願いいたします – a more humble version of お願いします - おねがいもうしあげますお願い申し上げます – the most formal level, used in written business communication

Nuance

Compared to ～てください, this pattern sounds more deferential and indirect. It frames the speaker as humbly asking rather than directly instructing. It is especially appropriate when speaking to superiors, clients, or in public announcements.