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• Use kudasai when asking for an item (“Give me something, please / kudasai”).
• If you’re not fluent in Japanese, a way to order food at a restaurant is to point at an item on the menu and say “kudasai”.
• When asking someone to do something that involves an action (for example, “Please wait here”, “Please be quiet”), use kudasai.  Do not use onegai shimasu in this case.

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• Similar meaning to kudasai, but it’s more generally used.
• Can be used to request an item, but is more polite / formal than kudasai.
• Popular way to get someone’s attention (for example, calling a waiter/waitress over to your table).
• Use onegai shimasu when requesting a service that you cannot fulfill yourself (do not use kudasai).
• Use onegai shimasu when asking for someone over the phone (do not use kudasai).

Contemporary Japanese Art

I also share a few pictures of my original paintings, including my Japanese calligraphy art and other Zen inspired paintings.

Buy my original paintings and framed /unframed art prints online!