Is it common in western culture to add the phrase "please" while asking others a question? I know it's quite a common phrase in English, but I wondered whether it is the same for other countries as well.

Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Yes, of course! When asking a question or asking for a favor, it's considered polite to add "please" to the question. Of course, this depends on the person. Some people are more casual when speaking, so they might not add "please" to a question. Ex: Can you please help me with something? (polite) Ex: Can I ask you something? (informal) Ex: Can I please ask you something? (more polite)