ぜひ (zehi) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Certainly
Anna Baffa Volpe
Get in touch with me5 min reading time
Anna Baffa Volpe
5 min reading time
The term ぜひ (zehi) means certainly, absolutely or by all means and it is generally considered an adverb, used in combination with a verb.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of ぜひ, how it is formed, and when ぜひ is used through real example sentences.
How ぜひ is formed
The term ぜひ can also be transcibed in kanji:
- 是非
zehi, interesting word formed by - 是 kanji of the demonstrative series of これ
kore: this, just so - 非 means fault, error, mistake
We can use the two transcriptions, but there is a slight difference:
- ぜひ in hiragana is considered as an adverb
- 是非 in kanji is a noun
是非 in a Japanese definition:
是と非。正しいことと正しくないこと。
Right and Wrong.
How and when ぜひ is used
ぜひ is often used with the て form of the verb and ください, the imperative mood of the verb くださる that means to give.
It is used when giving advice, suggestions or when inviting a person to do something.
是非見て下さい。
Please have a look.
Synonyms of 是非 are どうぞ dōzo, どうか dōka, くれぐれも kureguremo
是非する: argue, judge
是非 combined with する (make, do) means to argue about whether things are right or wrong, with the meaning of judge.
Please do
是非、日本に来てください！
Please do come to Japan!
We find the て form and ください, for requests or invitations in a polite way.
A
あなたの辞書を使っていいですか。
May I use your dictionary?
B
是非、どうぞ。
Please do.
もし見かけたら、是非電話してください。
If you see him, would you give us a call?
Zehi and recommendations
We can use ぜひ in everyday conversation, in business conversations and in e-mails, when we want to say: Please, do.
We use this expression in particular when we are recommending someone to do something.
是非あそこのレストランに行ってみて下さい。
Please go to that restaurant over there.
This expression can also be translated as you should do or you had better to do.
In this kind of sentences, we recommend and suggest someone to do something.
是非その映画を見て下さい。
You should watch that movie.
是非その食べ物をトライしてみて下さい。
I recommend that you try the food.
お勧めする o-susume suru in a polite form or 勧める susumeru in the dictionary form is the verb meaning to suggest.
I would love to
ぜひ in a conversational context has the meaning of I'l love to, I'd like to. When a person asks something using ませんか, the answer often contains the structure : 「是非！（～したい）」.
A
映画館へ行きませんか。
Would you like to go to the cinema?
B
是非行きたい！
Sure, I'd love to.
Zehi and Keigo, the honorific language
An expression of gratitude often used in Japan is:
宜しくお願いします。
Thank you very much for your help.
If we also use 是非 in the same expression, we are going to emphasise the feeling of gratitude towards the person. We find 是非 in many honorific expressions:
是非お使いください。
We hope you will use it.
The literal translation is Please use it, but since it is a Keigo expression, the translation into the various languages should use more sophisticated terms appropriate to the situation.
お時間があれば、是非お越しください。
If you have time, please come and visit us.
Examples of ぜひ
あなたの描いた絵を是非とも拝見したい。
I would love to see your drawing.
The term 是非とも zehitomo is used to give more emphasis to what is stated.
ぜひ私たちの結婚式に出席してほしい。
We would love you to attend our wedding.
今日の懇親会には是非出てくれと上司に頼まれてしまった。
My boss asked me to come to today's get-together by all means.
是非、話しましょう。
By all means, let's talk.
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚