When used with a verb, the auxiliary 〜てください (te kudasai) forms a polite request. The particle て (te) is the conjunctive form of a verb. For example, to ask someone to “please wait,” you would combine the て-form of the verb 待つ (matsu, to wait), which is 待って (matte), with ください (kudasai) to form 待ってください (matte kudasai).
This phrase is commonly used in daily conversation and is an essential expression for making requests in Japanese. While generally polite, the level of politeness can vary depending on the context and who you are speaking to. Adding the honorific お (o) or ご (go) before the verb and using a more formal politeness marker like ございます (gozaimasu) can further elevate the politeness, but for A1 learners, 〜てください is the standard polite request form.
§ Understanding 「〜てください」
The Japanese auxiliary verb 「〜てください」 (te kudasai) is a polite and common way to make a request or give an instruction. It translates to "please do (something)." It's incredibly versatile and you'll hear it all the time in daily conversations, from ordering food to asking for help.
- Japanese Word
- 〜てください
- Definition
- Please do (request).
- CEFR Level
- A1
§ Basic Structure
To use 「〜てください」, you attach it to the te-form of a verb. If you're not sure about te-forms yet, don't worry, we'll cover that in detail later. For now, just know that most verbs have a te-form. Here's the general pattern:
- Verb (te-form) + ください
Let's look at some common verbs and their te-forms:
- 飲む (nomu - to drink) → 飲んで (nonde)
- 食べる (taberu - to eat) → 食べて (tabete)
- 行く (iku - to go) → 行って (itte)
- 待つ (matsu - to wait) → 待って (matte)
So, to say "please drink," you'd say 「飲んでください」.
§ Where you hear 「〜てください」
You will encounter 「〜てください」 in almost every aspect of daily life in Japan. It's a fundamental part of polite communication.
§ At Work
In a professional setting, 「〜てください」 is used for giving instructions, making requests to colleagues, or asking clients to do something. It's polite but direct.
この書類にサインしてください。(kono shorui ni sain shite kudasai.)
Please sign this document. (Hint: 'sign this document')
会議室で待ってください。(kaigishitsu de matte kudasai.)
Please wait in the meeting room. (Hint: 'wait in the meeting room')
§ At School
Teachers use 「〜てください」 to give instructions to students, and students might use it to make requests to each other or to their teachers in a polite manner.
教科書を開けてください。(kyoukasho o akete kudasai.)
Please open your textbook. (Hint: 'open your textbook')
宿題を提出してください。(shukudai o teishutsu shite kudasai.)
Please submit your homework. (Hint: 'submit your homework')
§ In the News or Public Announcements
While not always direct commands, you'll see 「〜てください」 in public service announcements, safety warnings, or instructions from authorities. It's often used to encourage certain actions for the public good.
マスクを着用してください。(masuku o chakuyou shite kudasai.)
Please wear a mask. (Hint: 'wear a mask')
大声で話さないでください。(oogoe de hanasanaide kudasai.)
Please do not speak loudly. (Hint: 'do not speak loudly')
§ Everyday Interactions
From asking for directions to ordering at a restaurant, 「〜てください」 is your go-to phrase for polite requests.
もう少しゆっくり話してください。(mou sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai.)
Please speak a little slower. (Hint: 'speak a little slower')
水をください。(mizu o kudasai.)
Please give me water. (Hint: 'give me water')
自我测试 18 个问题
この書類に名前とサインを___。
To ask someone to write their name and sign, '書いてください' (kaite kudasai - please write) is the appropriate form.
すみませんが、窓を___。
To ask someone to open the window, '開けてください' (akete kudasai - please open) is correct.
もしよかったら、もう一度___。
To ask someone to speak again, '話してください' (hanashite kudasai - please speak) is used.
この本を___。
To ask someone to read a book, '読んでください' (yonde kudasai - please read) is the correct option.
わからないことがあったら、私に___。
To ask someone to ask you if they don't understand, '聞いてください' (kiite kudasai - please ask/listen) is appropriate.
もう少しゆっくり___。
To ask someone to walk a bit slower, '歩いてください' (aruite kudasai - please walk) is the right choice.
Choose the correct polite request: 'Please wait a moment.'
The '~てください' form is used to make polite requests. '待ってください' is the polite request form of '待つ' (to wait).
Which sentence correctly asks someone to 'Please read this book'?
The 'て-form' of '読む' (to read) is '読んで', and adding 'ください' makes it a polite request.
Select the most appropriate request for 'Please open the window.'
The 'て-form' of '開ける' (to open) is '開けて', and adding 'ください' forms a polite request.
The phrase '水を飲んでください' means 'Please drink water.'
'飲んで' is the te-form of '飲む' (to drink), and 'ください' makes it a polite request. So, it correctly translates to 'Please drink water.'
'静かにしてください' means 'Please be quiet.'
'静かにする' means 'to be quiet'. The 'て-form' '静かにして' combined with 'ください' forms the polite request 'Please be quiet.'
You can use '〜てください' to give a direct command without any politeness.
'〜てください' is specifically used for polite requests, not direct or impolite commands.
この複雑なパズルを___ください。
「解く」は「解いて」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
今後の計画について、ご意見を___ください。
「伺う」は謙譲語で「伺って」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
この件に関して、早急に解決策を___ください。
「見出す」は「見出して」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
詳細については、添付資料を___ください。
「参照する」は「参照して」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
もし不明な点がございましたら、遠慮なくご質問___ください。
「する」の尊敬語「なさる」は「なさって」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
この研究の成果を、広く社会に___ください。
「還元する」は「還元して」となり、「〜てください」と接続します。
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
例句
窓を開けてください。
相关内容
这个词在其他语言中
相关表达
更多communication词汇
について
A2about; concerning
宛先
B1The address or name of the recipient to whom mail or an email is sent.
番地
A2House number
賛同
B1Approval, endorsement; support or agreement with an idea.
~も
A2Too, also.
〜そして
A1And then; and (used to connect sentences or clauses).
〜や
A2And; and so forth (used to list examples, implying others exist).
たり
A2Indicates a non-exhaustive list of actions/states ('and so on').
お知らせ
B1Notice; an announcement or communication.
答え
A2A thing said, written, or done as a reaction to a question or statement.
