Polite Requests: Understanding Te-Form (Part 2)
Polite Requests: Understanding Te-Form (Part 2)
Welcome back to our exploration of the versatile te-form! In the previous lesson, we learned the basics of forming the te-form and how it's used to link actions together. This lesson focuses on its crucial role in making polite requests, a fundamental skill for navigating Japanese conversations. We'll also explore nuances of politeness and ways to soften your requests.
Review: Te-Form Basics
As a quick refresher, the te-form is a verb conjugation used for a variety of purposes, including connecting sentences, making requests, asking for and giving permission, and expressing ongoing actions (which we'll cover in the next lesson!). Remembering the te-form conjugation rules is key:
Group 1 (Godan verbs): These verbs have a vowel sound ending in -u in their dictionary form.
- Ending in -う, -つ, -る: Change to -って. Example:
- かう (kau, to buy) → かって (katte)
- Ending in -む, -ぶ, -ぬ: Change to -んで. Example:
- のむ (nomu, to drink) → のんで (nonde)
- Ending in -く: Change to -いて. Exception: いく (iku, to go) becomes いって (itte)
- かく (kaku, to write) → かいて (kaite)
- Ending in -ぐ: Change to -いで.
- およぐ (oyogu, to swim) → およいで (oyoide)
- Ending in -す: Change to -して.
- はなす (hanasu, to speak) → はなして (hanashite)
- Ending in -う, -つ, -る: Change to -って. Example:
Group 2 (Ichidan verbs): These verbs end in -る, preceded by an 'e' or 'i' sound. Simply drop the -る and add -て. Example:
- たべる (taberu, to eat) → たべて (tabete)
- みる (miru, to see) → みて (mite)
Group 3 (Irregular verbs): These have irregular conjugations.
- する (suru, to do) → して (shite)
- くる (kuru, to come) → きて (kite)
Making Polite Requests with Te-Form + ください (Kudasai)
The most common and straightforward way to make a polite request is using the te-form of a verb followed by ください (kudasai), which roughly translates to "please". This structure directly asks someone to do something.
ドアを あけて ください。
- Doa o akete kudasai.
- "Please open the door."
ここに すわって ください。
- Koko ni suwatte kudasai.
- "Please sit here."
More Examples:
| English | Japanese | Romaji | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Please write your name on this form. | このフォームに なまえを かいて ください。 | Kono fōmu ni namae o kaite kudasai. | Adding context, like "on this form," makes the request clearer. |
| Please wait a moment. | ちょっと まって ください。 | Chotto matte kudasai. | "Chotto" (a little) softens the request. |
| Please listen to this song. | このうたを きいて ください。 | Kono uta o kiite kudasai. | Specifically asking to listen to "this song." |
| Please read this book. | このほんを よんで ください。 | Kono hon o yonde kudasai. | "This book" - clarifying which book. |
| Please be quiet. | しずかに して ください。 | Shizuka ni shite kudasai. | This is a special case where "shizuka" (quiet) is a na-adjective, so we use "shite" (from "suru"). |
| Please help me. | たすけて ください。 | Tasukete kudasai. | |
| Please turn off the lights. | でんきを けして ください。 | Denki o keshite kudasai. |
Quick Quiz: Translate these requests
1. Please look at the picture. 2. Please be careful. 3. Please speak more slowly.Quiz Answers
1. しゃしんを みて ください。 (Shashin o mite kudasai.) 2. きをつけて ください。 (Ki o tsukete kudasai.) (lit. "Please pay attention.") 3. もっと ゆっくり はなして ください。 (Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai.)Softening Requests and Seeking Permission: Te-Form + もいいですか (Temo ii desu ka)
While "te-form + kudasai" is polite, sometimes you want to be even more considerate, especially if you're not sure if your request is appropriate or if you are speaking to someone who is your senior. You can soften the request or ask for permission using ～てもいいですか (temo ii desu ka), which translates to "May I...?", "Is it okay if I...?", or "Would it be alright if I...?" This structure phrases the request as a question of permission, giving the other person more agency.
みても いいですか。
- Mitemo ii desu ka.
- "May I look?" / "Is it okay if I look?"
すわっても いいですか。
- Suwattemo ii desu ka.
- "May I sit?" / "Is it okay if I sit?"
More Examples:
| English | Japanese | Romaji | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May I open the window? | まどを あけても いいですか。 | Mado o aketemo ii desu ka. | |
| Is it okay if I use your pen? | あなたのペンを つかっても いいですか。 | Anata no pen o tsukattemo ii desu ka. | Showing respect by acknowledging it's the other person's pen. |
| Would it be alright if I asked a question? | しつもんを しても いいですか。 | Shitsumon o shitemo ii desu ka. | Asking permission before asking a question. |
| May I enter? | はいっても いいですか。 | Haitte mo ii desu ka. | |
| Is it okay if I take a picture? | しゃしんを とっても いいですか。 | Shashin o tottemo ii desu ka. |
Possible Responses to "～てもいいですか" Questions:
- いいですよ (ii desu yo): Sure, it's okay. (Positive and encouraging)
- はい、どうぞ (hai, dōzo): Yes, please do. (Formal and polite)
- ええ、いいですよ (ee, ii desu yo): Yes, it's okay. (More casual)
- ちょっと… (chotto…): A little… (Implies it might not be okay, a soft refusal. More context needed.)
- すみません、ちょっと… (sumimasen, chotto…): Sorry, a little… (A more apologetic soft refusal.)
- だめです (dame desu): No, you can't. (A direct, but potentially rude, refusal. Use cautiously.)
Practice: How would you politely ask for permission to eat this cake?
Answer
このケーキを たべても いいですか。(Kono kēki o tabetemo ii desu ka.) - "May I eat this cake?"Even More Polite: Te-Form + いただけませんか (Itadakemasen ka) / くれませんか (Kuremasen ka)
For even greater politeness, especially when asking a favour, you can use the phrases いただけませんか (itadakemasen ka) or くれませんか (kuremasen ka). These translate to "Could you possibly...?", "Would you mind...?". The former (itadakemasen ka) is significantly more polite than the latter (kuremasen ka).
手伝っていただけませんか。
- Tetsudatte itadakemasen ka.
- "Could you possibly help me?" (Very Polite)
手伝ってくれませんか。
- Tetsudatte kuremasen ka.
- "Could you help me?" (Polite, but less formal)
Important Notes:
- "Itadakemasen ka" is used when you are asking someone to do something that benefits you. It expresses your gratitude in advance for their potential help. It's best reserved for superiors, elders, or situations where extreme politeness is necessary.
- "Kuremasen ka" is still polite, but more appropriate for peers, subordinates, or situations where the formality isn't as critical.
- "Kudasai" can be perceived as a direct command if your tone is not careful or if the context doesn't warrant it. Using "itadakemasen ka" and "kuremasen ka" avoids this potential pitfall, especially when asking for a significant favour.
More Examples:
| English | Japanese | Romaji | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Could you possibly lend me your pen? (Very Polite) | ペンを かしていただけませんか。 | Pen o kashite itadakemasen ka. | |
| Could you lend me your pen? (Polite) | ペンを かしてくれませんか。 | Pen o kashite kuremasen ka. | |
| Would you mind explaining this to me? (Very Polite) | これを せつめいしていただけませんか。 | Kore o setsumei shite itadakemasen ka. | Asking for a task that requires effort, so "itadakemasen ka" is suitable. |
| Would you explain this to me? (Polite) | これを せつめいしてくれませんか。 | Kore o setsumei shite kuremasen ka. | |
| Could you please teach me Japanese? (Very Polite) | にほんごを おしえて いただけませんか。 | Nihongo o oshiete itadakemasen ka. | Using いただけます to show respect, especially if the other person is a teacher or someone whose help you highly value. |
| Could you please teach me Japanese? (Polite) | にほんごを おしえて くれませんか。 | Nihongo o oshiete kuremasen ka. |
Translate: "Could you possibly check this document for me?" (Very Polite)
Answer
このドキュメントを チェックして いただけませんか。 (Kono dokyumento o chekku shite itadakemasen ka.)Practice
Convert the following verbs to te-form and make polite requests using ください (kudasai):
- よむ (yomu, to read)
- つかう (tsukau, to use)
- しめる (shimeru, to close)
Ask for permission using ～てもいいですか (temo ii desu ka):
- Open the window (あける - akeru)
- Eat this (たべる - taberu)
- Take a break (やすむ - yasumu)
Rephrase the requests in part 1 using ~いただけませんか (itadakemasen ka)