In 15 Seconds
- Write at a relaxed, careful pace.
- Essential for Kanji practice and forms.
- Shows respect and care for the reader.
Meaning
This phrase means to take your time while writing by hand. It emphasizes being careful, clear, and not rushing your pen or pencil.
Key Examples
3 of 6At the bank filling out a form
名前をゆっくり書いてください。
Please write your name slowly.
Teaching a child how to write Hiragana
ゆっくり書くと、きれいに見えるよ。
If you write slowly, it will look beautiful.
Writing a message in a friend's wedding card
心を込めて、ゆっくり書きました。
I wrote this slowly, putting my heart into it.
Cultural Background
Japanese culture places high value on 'shuji' (penmanship), where the balance and stroke order of characters are thought to reveal one's inner state. Writing slowly is considered a sign of a calm mind and respect for the recipient of the message.
Kanji Mastery
When you write slowly, focus on 'tome' (stop), 'hane' (hook), and 'harai' (sweep). It makes your Kanji look like a pro's!
Slow vs. Late
Don't confuse `yukkuri` (slowly) with `osoku` (late). If you say `osoku kaku`, it sounds like you are writing late at night!
In 15 Seconds
- Write at a relaxed, careful pace.
- Essential for Kanji practice and forms.
- Shows respect and care for the reader.
What It Means
This phrase is simple and sweet. It means taking your time with a pen. You are not rushing your hand. You focus on every single line. It is about being careful and clear. It feels very calm and intentional. You use it to prioritize quality over speed.
How To Use It
You just put yukkuri before the verb kaku. Yukkuri is an adverb meaning slowly or relaxedly. Kaku is the basic verb for write. You can change the ending to fit the mood. Use kaite kudasai to ask someone else. Use kakimasu when you are doing it. It is a very flexible building block.
When To Use It
Use this when filling out official forms. Banks and city halls love clear writing. It is perfect for practicing new Kanji characters. Use it when writing a heartfelt birthday card. It shows you put effort into the message. You might also say it to a child. It helps them learn to be neat. Even in a meeting, you might say it. It tells others you are taking detailed notes.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for typing on a phone. Typing uses a different verb called utsu. If you type slowly, say yukkuri utsu. Also, avoid it for the creative process. If you are 'writing' a novel slowly, it's different. That usually implies a long time period. This phrase focuses on the physical act of writing. Don't use it if you are actually in a hurry. That would be very confusing for everyone!
Cultural Background
In Japan, handwriting is a big deal. It is seen as a reflection of you. People often judge character by your script. This comes from the history of Shodo or calligraphy. Beautiful writing is a highly respected skill. Taking your time shows respect to the reader. It tells them they are worth the effort. Even messy handwriting is okay if it's 'slow'. It shows you tried your best.
Common Variations
You will often hear yukkuri kaite. This is a casual request for friends. Teinei ni kaku is a close cousin. That means to write 'politely' or 'neatly'. If you want to be very formal, use o-kaki kudasai. This is what you hear at fancy hotels. Another one is yukkuri de ii desu yo. This means 'It is okay to take your time.' It is a very kind thing to say.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral phrase suitable for most daily situations. Just remember to use the appropriate verb ending (`-te kudasai`, `-masu`, etc.) to match the formality of your conversation.
Kanji Mastery
When you write slowly, focus on 'tome' (stop), 'hane' (hook), and 'harai' (sweep). It makes your Kanji look like a pro's!
Slow vs. Late
Don't confuse `yukkuri` (slowly) with `osoku` (late). If you say `osoku kaku`, it sounds like you are writing late at night!
The Character Secret
In Japan, people believe 'the person is the handwriting.' Writing slowly suggests you are a composed and reliable person.
Examples
6名前をゆっくり書いてください。
Please write your name slowly.
The clerk wants to make sure they can read your name.
ゆっくり書くと、きれいに見えるよ。
If you write slowly, it will look beautiful.
Encouraging a child to focus on neatness.
心を込めて、ゆっくり書きました。
I wrote this slowly, putting my heart into it.
Expressing that the message was written with care.
毎晩、日記をゆっくり書いてるよ。
I'm writing in my diary slowly every night.
Describing a relaxing personal routine.
ゆっくり書いても、全然読めないよ！
Even if you write slowly, I can't read it at all!
A humorous jab at someone's messy writing style.
難しい漢字をゆっくり書きます。
I will write the difficult Kanji slowly.
Focusing on the complex strokes of a character.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct adverb to complete the sentence: 'Please write slowly.'
___ 書いてください。
`Yukkuri` means slowly, while `hayaku` means quickly and `takusan` means a lot.
Complete the sentence to say 'I wrote slowly.'
ゆっくり ___。
`Kakimashita` is the past tense of write. `Yomimashita` is read, and `kikimashita` is listened.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Write Slowly'
To a friend or sibling.
ゆっくり書いてね。
Standard polite situation.
ゆっくり書きます。
At a bank or office.
ゆっくりお書きください。
When to use ゆっくり書く
Postcard
Writing to a relative.
Official Forms
Signing a contract.
Kanji Practice
Learning new strokes.
Journaling
Quiet time at night.
Practice Bank
2 exercises___ 書いてください。
`Yukkuri` means slowly, while `hayaku` means quickly and `takusan` means a lot.
ゆっくり ___。
`Kakimashita` is the past tense of write. `Yomimashita` is read, and `kikimashita` is listened.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt means 'slowly' or 'at a relaxed pace.' It can be used for eating, walking, or writing like in yukkuri kaku.
Not really. For typing, use yukkuri utsu. Kaku specifically refers to using a pen, pencil, or brush.
Not if you use kudasai. Saying yukkuri kaite kudasai is a common and polite way to ask for clear handwriting.
Yukkuri is about speed (slowly), while teinei is about care (neatly/politely). Often, they go together!
You can say yukkuri kaite imasu. This describes the action you are doing right now.
Yes, it is ゆっくり, but it is almost always written in Hiragana. You rarely see the Kanji version in daily life.
Yes, because the verb for 'draw' is also kaku (though sometimes written with a different Kanji). Yukkuri kaku works for sketching too.
The opposite is hayaku kaku, which means to write quickly or rush your writing.
Usually no. To say you are taking a long time to finish a book, you'd use jikan o kakete kaku.
It's a bit casual. In an email, you might say teinei ni kisai suru (to record/write neatly) instead.
Related Phrases
丁寧に書く
To write neatly/carefully.
速く書く
To write quickly.
メモを取る
To take notes.
名前を記す
To write down one's name (formal).
