Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 9: 5/13

~て(くだ)さいPlease do (Polite request)

In casual speech, ください can be omitted, resulting in the request finishing in て

Structure

Verb[て]+ ください
Politeness Levels

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Register

    Polite

About てください

てください is a polite expression that is used for asking people to do something. It is most often translated as 'please do (A)'.

ください is actually classified as honorific language, a type of polite speech that is used to refer to the actions of other people. くださる itself is the base form of this verb. While ください is exclusively used for making requests. くださる is the honorific language equivalent of くれる.

In friendly conversation, ください can be omitted from this expression, and the form itself can be used as a very casual way of saying 'please do (A)'.

Antonyms


Examples

--:--

    この(ほん)()んでください

    Please read this book.

    ()べてください

    Please eat.

    やめてください

    Please stop.

    このえんぴつ使(つか)ってください

    Please use this pencil.

    ここから写真(しゃしん)()ってください

    Please take the photo from here.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

てください – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • Jake

    Jake

    please do…

    Structure

    • Verb[] + ください

    [polite request]

    View on Bunpro

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    Hey

    待ってください is “momentary”, action lasting for a very short time. “Please wait (a sec).”
    You can use this when your friends are a bit ahead of you and you want them to stop, so you can catch them up.

    待っていてください implies a longer time. “Please remain/keep waiting.”
    This is something Odysseus would say to his wife before departing. Though it doesn’t have to be that long. Just longer than “moment”.

    I hope it is clear

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    Yeah, that makes sense. ありがとうございます。

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    Hi,

    Would it be possible to include as Fun Fact the “sister” expression ちょうだい (頂戴)? The text could be based on the one used by Tae Kim. One example could be the intro to this Pizzicato Five song (no kidding!).

    Thank you very much for your consideration!
    良い一日を

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    Hi!

    I come back with this suggestion as Fun Fact for this grammar point. I think it is the proper place for this “sister” expression ちょうだい, which I guess is of common usage.

    Thank you again for your consideration!
    良い週末を

Got questions about てください? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion