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ください (kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'ください (kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The verb ください (kudasai) is generally translated as Please give me or simply Please.

ください is the imperative form of the verb くださる which means to give.

In this post we are going learn more about the meaning of ください, how it is formed, and when ください is used through real example sentences.

How ください is formed

ください is a verb coming from the dictionary form くださる and has its own kanji:

  • 下(くだ)さる kudasaru, to give
  • 下(くだ)さい kudasai, please give me
Noun + を+下(くだ)さい
Te form of the Verb+下(くだ)さい

How and when ください is used

ください is used to ask someone to do something in a polite way and it is often used in combination with other verbs.

Object + Kudasai

A simple way to use this form is with the object expressed by the particle を.

お茶(ちゃ)を下(くだ)さい。

Please give me some tea.

書(しょ)類(るい)のコピーをください。

Please give me a copy of the documents.

Kudasai in orders and instructions

The way we order someone to do something may sound rude and inappropriate if we don't know how to do it politely.

The use of the verb ください turns orders and instructions in a polite form and way to express.

この薬(くすり)を１日(にち)に３回(かい)食(しょく)後(ご)に飲(の)んでください。

Take this medicine three times a day after meals.

教(きょう)科(か)書(しょ)の２5ページを見(み)てください。

Look at page 25 of your textbook.

Kudasai and requests

A common use of ください is in our requests to someone.

先(せん)生(せい)、すみませんがこの漢(かん)字(じ)の読(よ)み方(かた)を教(おし)えてください。

Teacher, please tell me how to read this kanji.

もう少(すく)し待(ま)ってください。

Please wait a little longer.

When we make a request, we often use すみませんが, excuse me as introductory expression.

Use of Kudasai masen ka

Another polite way to ask something is the use of くださいませんか, whichi is the negative interrogative form of ください. 観(かん)光(こう)案(あん)内(ない)所(じょ)で: at the tourist information center

A

あのう、この町(まち)の地(ち)図(ず)をくださいませんか。

Umm, could you give me a map of this town?

B

はい、どうぞ。

Here you are.

We find the same use with the て form of the verb:

手(て)伝(つだ)ってくださいませんか？

Could you help me, please?

この席(せき)を取(と)っておいてくださいませんか。

Could you please save this seat for me?

Kudasai and recommendations

When we recommend something, we often use it with the word どうぞ: please

どうぞ、ゆっくりしていってください。

Please, take your time.

Honorific language and Kudasaimase

ご連(れん)絡(らく)下(くだ)さい。

Please contact me (us).

This sentence is formally polite using ください, but not suggested in business e-mails and relationships, because it sounds as an ordinary imperative form: contact! We prefer other expressions:

ご連(れん)絡(らく)くださいませ。

Please contact me (us).

Or:

ご連(れん)絡(らく)をお願(ねが)い致(いた)します。

Please contact me (us)

0:00.00

-1:0-1.00

ありがとうございました。またお越(こ)し下(くだ)さいませ。

Thank you very much. Please come again.

It is an expression to use towards our customers or people that visited our shop, company or factory:

  • Come back again, please
  • Visit us again, please

Examples with ください

やめて下(くだ)さい。

Please stop it!

手(て)紙(がみ)を忘(わす)れずにポストに入(い)れてください。

Don't forget to put the letter in the post.

The て form of the verb has its negative structure in *ないで＋ください:

彼(かの)女(じょ)を信(しん)じないでください。

Don't believe her!

Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚

から

から (kara) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Because

だけ

だけ (dake) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Only

たりする

たりする (tari suru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Do Such Things as A, B Etc

ちがう

ちがう (chigau) Meaning Japanese Grammar - No

まだ

まだ (mada) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Still

ないでください

ないでください (naide kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please Do Not Do