～てください (Polite Requests in Japanese)

Ever wanted to ask someone to do something in Japanese, like “please wait,” “please come in,” or “please say it again”?

That’s exactly what ～てください is for.

You'll need this grammar form if you want to get what you want from other people. 😉

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What ～てください means and when to use it
• How to form it with any verb
• Real examples you’ll hear every day
• Practice exercises to help it stick

Let’s get started!

What Does ～てください Mean?

「～てください」is the polite way to ask someone to do something in Japanese.

It’s made of:

• A verb in the ～て form
• Plus 「ください」, which literally means “please give (me)” — but when paired like this, it turns into “please do [something].”

Examples:

• まってください → Please wait
• よんでください → Please read
• たべてください → Please eat

It’s polite but still direct, perfect for when you want to make a request without being too forceful.

How to Make the ～てください Form

Just follow these two steps:

Step 1: Change the verb to its ～て form

For example,

• のむ → のんで
• たべる → たべて

Step 2: Add 「ください」

Done! For example:

• たべる → たべてください → Please eat
• のむ → のんでください → Please drink
• まつ → まってください → Please wait
• はなす → はなしてください → Please speak
• する → してください → Please do
• くる → きてください → Please come

When to Use ～てください

Use this form when you want to politely ask or tell someone to do something.

It’s great for:

• Giving directions
• Asking for help
• Telling someone what to do (nicely)
• Instructions in class, stores, or manuals

Real-Life Examples Using ～てください

You’ll hear these kinds of phrases everywhere:

まってください！

Matte kudasai! → Please wait! (don't goooo~!)

みてください。

Mite kudasai. → Please look.

ドアをしめてください。

Doa wo shimete kudasai. → Please close the door.

ここになまえをかいてください。

Koko ni namae wo kaite kudasai. → Please write your name here.

もういちどいってください。

Mou ichido itte kudasai. → Please say it one more time. (Take note of this one, it's pretty useful...)

きをつけてください！

Ki wo tsukete kudasai! → Please be careful!

これください。

Kore kudasai. → Please give me this. (Not really ～てください, but commonly used to buy stuff at a store. And no, they won't give it to you for free 😅)

Can I Drop the 「ください」?

Yes, but only in casual situations.

If you’re talking with close friends or kids, you can drop 「ください」and just say the ～て form with a softer tone:

• まって → wait
• みて → look
• ちょっとまって → wait a sec

But for anyone you don’t know well (or in public), keep「ください」 to not sound like a demanding, rude person.

What Does 「ください」 Really Mean?

「ください」comes from the verb くださる, which is the polite/honorific way to say “to give” in Japanese.

So originally, 「～てください」literally meant something like:

“Please do [this action] and give it to me.”

Over time, it simply came to mean:
→ “Please do this.”

You’ll still see ください used on its own too:

• これをください。→ Please give me this.
• みずをください。→ Water, please.

So whether it’s giving a thing or giving an action, 「ください」is basically the way to say “please.”

Practice Time!

Practice 1: Make a Request

Turn these verbs into ～てください form:

のみます → __________

はなします → __________

かきます → __________

きます → __________

します → __________

Answers:

のんでください

はなしてください

かいてください

きてください

してください

Practice 2: Translate It!

Write these in Japanese using ～てください:

• Please speak slowly.
• Please turn right.
• Please take a seat.

Answers:

• ゆっくりはなしてください。
• みぎにまがってください。
• すわってください。

Final Recap

～てください is the Japanese grammar pattern for making polite requests.

• Use it when you want to say “please do…”
• Just take the ～て form of a verb and add ください
• It’s direct but polite for everyday Japan life

Use it at work, in stores, on signs, and with anyone you want to speak to respectfully.