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

3 min reading time

Updated on 22 January 2023

ください (kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please

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:

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

(ちゃ)(くだ)さい。

Please give me some tea.

(しょ)(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(くすり)を1(にち)に3(かい)(しょく)()()んでください。

Take this medicine three times a day after meals.

(きょう)()(しょ)の25ページを()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.

(せん)(せい)、すみませんがこの(かん)()()(かた)(おし)えてください。

Teacher, please tell me how to read this kanji.

もう(すく)()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

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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

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Examples with ください

やめて(くだ)さい。

Please stop it!

()(がみ)(わす)れずにポストに()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:

(かの)(じょ)(しん)じないでください。

Don't believe her!

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