意思
Politically asking someone to proceed before you, often in a queue or entering a place.
练习题库
3 练习When politely asking someone to go ahead of you in a queue or when entering a place, you would say 先にお願__。
You are at the entrance to a restaurant and want to let the person in front of you go first. You say: ____にお願いします。
If you want to offer someone to proceed before you, the full polite phrase is: ____ ____。
🎉 得分： /3
The Japanese phrase '先にお願いします' (saki ni onegai shimasu) is a polite expression used to invite someone to go ahead of you, whether in a queue, entering a place, or starting an action. Let's break down its etymology by examining each component word. **先 (saki):** * **Meaning:** 'Before,' 'ahead,' 'previous,' 'priority,' 'tip,' 'front.' * **Origin:** The kanji 先 is a pictograph representing a person (人) with their legs moving forward, indicating 'ahead' or 'first.' Its ancient forms show a foot moving forward, suggesting progression. In a temporal sense, it signifies what comes before. In a spatial sense, it denotes the front or an advanced position. * **Evolution:** The concept of 'saki' has consistently carried the meaning of precedence, whether in time, space, or order. It is fundamental in many Japanese expressions related to sequence and priority. **に (ni):** * **Meaning:** Particle indicating 'to,' 'at,' 'in,' 'for,' 'on,' 'towards,' 'as a result of,' 'by.' In this context, it functions as a dative particle, indicating the direction or recipient of an action, or the target of politeness. * **Origin:** This particle is one of the most common and ancient in the Japanese language. Its origins trace back to Old Japanese, where it already served a wide range of grammatical functions, including indicating location, time, direction, and agent in a passive construction. Over centuries, its usage has remained remarkably stable. * **Role in the phrase:** Here, 'ni' clarifies that the 'saki' (going first/ahead) is directed towards the other person, implicitly granting them that precedence. **お願い (onegai):** * **Meaning:** 'Request,' 'favor,' 'plea.' It is the noun form of the verb 'negau' (願う), meaning 'to wish,' 'to desire,' 'to request,' 'to pray for.' The 'o-' (お) is an honorific prefix, adding politeness. * **Origin of 願う (negau):** The kanji 願 is a combination of 頁 (kashira, meaning 'head' or 'page' and often related to human actions or thoughts) and 原 (hara, meaning 'origin,' 'field,' or 'source,' but here possibly used for its phonetic value or to suggest a foundational desire). The character as a whole implies a deeply felt wish or a heartfelt request. Its use dates back to classical Japanese literature. * **Evolution of お願い (onegai):** The honorific 'o-' began to be widely used in the Heian period (794-1185) to show respect to the listener or to the action itself. 'Onegai' thus evolved into a highly polite way of making a request. **します (shimasu):** * **Meaning:** Polite form of the verb 'suru' (する), meaning 'to do,' 'to make.' It functions as a light verb or an auxiliary verb. * **Origin of する (suru):** 'Suru' is one of the most fundamental and versatile verbs in Japanese, with ancient roots. It is an irregular verb that has been central to Japanese grammar for millennia, used to form compound verbs (e.g., benkyō-suru 'to study') and to express actions. * **Role in the phrase:** When combined with 'onegai,' 'onegai shimasu' (or the more direct 'onegai itashimasu' for even higher formality) literally means 'I do a request' or 'I make a request.' It solidifies the polite request form. The '-masu' (ます) ending is the standard polite conjugation for verbs in modern Japanese, making the entire utterance respectful and suitable for general social interaction. **Overall Etymology and Nuance:** When combined, '先にお願いします' creates a layered expression of deference and politeness. * **先 (saki):** Establishes the core idea of someone going 'first' or 'ahead.' * **に (ni):** Directs this priority towards the other person. * **お願い (onegai):** Frames this as a polite 'request' or 'favor' being granted by the speaker to the listener. * **します (shimasu):** Renders the entire request in a humble and polite manner. The phrase doesn't literally translate to 'please go ahead.' Instead, it carries a more nuanced meaning akin to "I request that you go ahead" or "I ask for the favor of you going first." This reflects the Japanese cultural value of prioritizing others, showing humility, and using indirect language to maintain harmony and respect. The phrase allows the speaker to politely cede their turn or position to another, rather than issuing a direct command or suggestion. It's an embodiment of 'omotenashi' (hospitality) and a crucial element of Japanese social etiquette, demonstrating consideration for the other person's convenience or status.
