～て下(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
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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 て form itself can be used as a very casual way of saying 'please do (A)'.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

--:--

この本(ほん)を読(よ)んでください。

Please read this book.

食(た)べてください。

Please eat.

やめてください。

Please stop.

このえんぴつを使(つか)ってください。

Please use this pencil.

ここから、写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)ってください。

Please take the photo from here.

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Online
- Explanations and example sentences.
  いいね Nihongo
- Making Requests
  Tae Kim
- Request (TE) form + Present Continuous (doING)
  Japanese Ammo

Offline
- Genki I
  Page 120
- Genki I 2nd Edition
  Page 151
- みんなの日本語 I
  Page 92 [CH 14]
- [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
  Page 209
- Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
  Page 64
- Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
  Page 177
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てください – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

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