Making Requests

Vocabulary

食(た)べるた・べるru-verbto eat

待(ま)つま・つu-verbto wait

見(み)るみ・るru-verbto look

座(すわ)るすわ・るu-verbto sit

静(しず)かしず・かna-adjquiet

入(はい)るはい・るu-verbto enter

触(さわ)るさわ・るu-verbto touch

写真(しゃしん)しゃ・しんphoto

撮(と)ると・るu-verbto take (photo)

There are many levels of politeness when asking for things in Japanese.

Standard request. “Please do…”

食(た)べてください。Please eat.

ここに座(すわ)ってください。Please sit here.

静(しず)かにしてください。Please be quiet.

Similar to ください but more casual.

待(ま)ってちょうだい。Wait, please.

見(み)てちょうだい。Look, please.

ここに来(き)てちょうだい。Come here, please.

Used by parents to children or teachers to students.

食(た)べなさい。Eat!

早(はや)く寝(ね)なさい。Go to bed early!

宿題(しゅくだい)をしなさい。Do your homework!

Very rough, used informally or in emergencies.

食(た)べろ！Eat!

黙(だま)れ！Shut up!

見(み)ろ！Look!

Structure: て-form + も + いい + ですか?

食(た)べてもいいですか？May I eat?

写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)ってもいいですか？May I take a photo?

入(はい)ってもいい？Can I come in? (casual)