お～願うo negau“please do; ask someone to do”

お～願う means please do; ask someone to do. It is a JLPT N2 Japanese grammar pattern used to make a polite request using humble/formal wording.

This grammar point often appears in advanced reading, formal writing, notices, essays, and careful conversation. If you want to read Japanese with more nuance, お～願う is a useful pattern to learn because it shows the speaker’s logic, stance, or emphasis.

What does お～願う mean?

Use お～願う when you want to make a polite request using humble/formal wording.

Natural translations include:

• please do; ask someone to do
• depending on context
• in a way that matches the speaker’s emphasis

How to form お～願う

お + Verb stem + 願う

Examples of the pattern:

• こちらにお名前をお書き願います。
• しばらくお待ち願います。
• ご確認のうえ

When is お～願う used?

Use お～願う in situations like:

• reading formal explanations, announcements, or essays
• making a point more precise than a basic grammar pattern would
• connecting two ideas with a clear nuance

Tone and register:

• usually neutral to formal, depending on the expression
• common in JLPT N2 reading passages, news, notices, and business-like writing

お～願う example sentences

• こちらにお名前をお書き願います。 — Please write your name here.
• しばらくお待ち願います。 — Please wait for a moment.
• ご確認のうえ、お返事願います。 — Please check and reply.
• 会場内では携帯電話の電源をお切り願います。 — Please turn off your mobile phone inside the venue.
• 詳細は受付でお尋ね願います。 — Please ask at reception for details.

After reading each sentence, ask what job お～願う is doing.

Nuance of お～願う

The key nuance is make a polite request using humble/formal wording.

For example:

• In formal writing, お～願う often sounds more precise than a casual equivalent.
• Compared with てください, it has a different tone or scope even when the English translation looks similar.

お～願う vs てください

お～願う:

• fits the N2 nuance explained above
• often sounds more specific, formal, or emphatic

てください:

• is usually broader, simpler, or used in a different register
• may be better in casual conversation depending on the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• こちらにお名前をお書き願います。
• Try rewriting the sentence with てください and notice whether the tone or meaning changes.

Common mistakes with お～願う

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Translating it too literally and missing the function in context
• Confusing it with てください just because the English translation overlaps
• Using it in casual speech when a simpler pattern would sound more natural

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with お～願う, then compare it with a related grammar point. Explain the difference in your own words.

Is お～願う on the JLPT?

Yes. お～願う is commonly taught as JLPT N2 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for お～願う

• Write one sentence that clearly needs お～願う.
• Write a second sentence with てください and compare the nuance.
• Find a notice, article, or dialogue where this kind of meaning would be natural.

Learning path for お～願う

To learn お～願う efficiently, follow a path that matches this pattern’s real function.

1. First review the formation so the base structure feels natural.
2. Then compare お～願う with てください and the related lessons below.
3. Finally, write your own sentence where the context makes お～願う necessary.

Related grammar to review next

• n5 te kudasai — please do.
• n4 o kudasai — please do; respectful request.
• n5 naide kudasai — please don’t do.

Learn お～願う with Hane

If you want to review お～願う together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N2 grammar lessons