I've seen some emails ending with 何卒宜しくお願い致します but I was wondering if it just
raises the respect/politeness of a letter or does it have specific situations
where it should/shouldn't be use?

Like when you're expecting a response, I usually end with ご回答の程、宜しくお願いします。 But
I'm really not that clear with 何卒 usage.
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2014-06-20T05:24:21.723
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2022-01-29T06:25:30.453
2022-01-29T06:25:30.453
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question
usage honorifics formality
What are appropriate situations where you use 何卒 to end a formal correspondence?
In this case,the 何卒 means "please". It is a bit formal way to tell something
to someone.
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2014-06-24T10:45:15.190
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2014-06-24T10:45:15.190
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answer
As something of a fossilized and archaic term, 何卒{なにとぞ} comes across as more
formal and stiff. This would not be used in everyday talk. Possible use cases
in the closing of formal correspondence might be:

  * ご質問{しつもん}等{とう}がございましたら **何卒** ご連絡{れんらく}ください。
  * **何卒** 宜{よろ}しくお願{ねが}い致{いた}します。
  * **何卒** どうぞ宜{よろ}しくお願{ねが}い致{いた}します。  
Some folks consider this last one to be redundant or incorrect with both 何卒
and どうぞ, as these have basically the same meaning, but I do find [numerous
examples of
use](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E4%BD%95%E5%8D%92%E3%81%A9%E3%81%86%E3%81%9E%E5%AE%9C%E3%81%97%E3%81%8F%E3%81%8A%E9%A1%98%E3%81%84%E8%87%B4%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%22)
by what appear to be native speakers, so take that for what you will.

Breaking this term down, Shogakukan explains that this is 何{なに} "what" + と
(particle) + ぞ (particle), with the 卒 character serving as ateji. The ぞ isn't
used much and might be less well-known. In this context, it basically serves
as an intensifier, a bit like も after question words. The resulting meaning of
the phrase is a bit like English " _whatever the case may be_ ", or " _no
matter what_ ". Synonyms listed in the dictionary entry are どうぞして, なんとかして, and
どうか. (Incidentally, the ぞ in なにとぞ is the same ぞ in どうぞ.)
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2014-06-24T19:52:29.773
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2014-06-24T19:52:29.773
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answer