お～ください (o-kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please Do

The expression お～ください (o-kudasai) represents the imperative form of くださる and means please, combined with the verb that expresses the action of the request.

It is a form of Keigo honorific language to ask the interlocutor to perform a certain action or when it is recommended to do a certain thing.

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

How お～ください is formed

"This form is widely used in Japanese and consists of:

• the honorific prefix お or ご
• the verb base: same form for Ichidan Verbs and B2 or Base in い for Godan verbs
• and the verb ください

Ichidan verb: 伝(つた)える transmit, report, communicate

Depending on the context, お伝えください can be translated into different English phrases, such as:

• Please tell me
• Please inform me
• Please pass on the information

Godan verb: 聞(き)く listen, ask

"Depending on the situation, the translation of お聞き下さい can be either Please listen or Please ask.

How and when to use お～ください

'お～下(くだ)さい' is an expression of Keigo, the honorific language, specifically the 尊(そん)敬(けい)語(ご) Sonkeigo language of respect.

It is the imperative form of the verb 下さる and is commonly translated as please do.

This form is typically used in formal contexts when addressing the owner or a superior in a company, customers in a commercial setting or elderly people.

In a previous post, we studied the use of 下さい for making polite requests preceded by a noun or the て form of a verb.

Example with the Godan verb 使(つか)う use, make use of

Verb 待(ま)つ wait

Prefixes お and ご with the verb する

In the case of the form: Noun + Verb する (to do), the verb is omitted and the form becomes:

Grammar Structure

お-御(ご)+Noun+下(くだ)さい

電(でん)話(わ)する call

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

お電(でん)話(わ)下(くだ)さい。

Please call me.

With some nouns, the honorific prefix is 御 go 確(かく)認(にん)する confirm

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

ご確(かく)認(にん)下(くだ)さい。

Please confirm.

安(あん)心(しん)する be at ease, feel secure, feel relieved

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

ご安(あん)心(しん)下(くだ)さい。

Please rest assured.

注(ちゅう)意(い)する be careful, take care

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

ご注(ちゅう)意(い)ください。戸(と)に触(ふ)れないでください。ケガをする恐(おそ)れがあります。

Please be careful. Do not touch the door as this may cause injury.

Examples of お～ください

Verb 申(もう)し込(こ)む: apply for, make an application

お越(こ)しになる is a verb that you will often hear in formal conversations among Japanese people; it is the Keigo form of the verbs 来(く)る come and 行(い)く go

The previous expression is used on the occasion of a meal, especially when the meal is hosted by someone considered to be in a formal position.

It also has another meaning in line with the verb 上(あ)がる which means go up:

⇨ Please go up.

お～ください can often be seen in signs displayed in various Japanese canteens, particularly in recent years.

We find in this sign the forms:

• ご協(きょう)力(りょく)ください: a polite request asking for cooperation
• お控(ひか)えください: an expression used to request someone to refrain from or avoid something