GrammarJLPT N5
→ please (give me)
Please (give me) / Please (do for me)
JLPT N5Fixed phraseNeutral
ください is the polite imperative form of the honorific verb くださる (to give, to bestow), and it serves two fundamental roles in Japanese. First, it functions as a polite way to request an object, meaning "please give me," when used after a noun plus the particle を (or with を omitted in casual speech). Second, and more commonly encountered by learners, it attaches to the て-form of a verb to form polite requests meaning "please do (something for me)." Although ください originates from respectful (sonkeigo) language, it is used so universally in daily life that it functions at a neutral-to-polite register, appropriate in shops, classrooms, workplaces, and everyday conversation. It is softer than a bare imperative but more direct than constructions like 〜ていただけますか. Compared to the casual ちょうだい, which also means "please give me," ください is more polite and widely usable. Learners should be aware that the noun-request use ("please give me X") and the verb-request use ("please do X") follow different structural patterns.
Functions
#1 Politely requesting an object
Structure
Noun + を + ください
水をください。
Here ください is used after the noun 水 (water) with the particle を to politely ask someone to give you something. This is the most basic and original use of ください, directly related to its meaning as the imperative of くださる (to give). This pattern is extremely common in restaurants, shops, and everyday situations where you want to receive a physical item. The particle を is sometimes dropped in very casual speech, as in 水ください, but including を is grammatically standard.Please give me water.
Structures
- Noun (requesting an object)
- Noun + を + ください
- Verb (requesting an action)
- Verb (て-form) + ください
Common mistakes
A very common mistake is confusing the noun-request pattern with the verb-request pattern. Learners sometimes say something like 食べるください instead of the correct 食べてください, forgetting that the verb must be in て-form before ください. Another frequent error is incorrect て-form conjugation, such as saying 書きてください instead of 書いてください, which stems from not mastering Godan verb て-form sound changes. Some learners also overuse ください with superiors or in very formal situations where a softer expression like 〜ていただけますか would be more appropriate, since ください, while polite, is still a direct request and can sound commanding in certain contexts.
Related
〜てください〜てくれる〜てもらうお〜ください〜をちょうだい