Introduction
In formal Japanese, it’s important to give advice politely. One common way to do this is by using the form お + verb stem + ください (o + verb stem + kudasai). You’ll often hear it in public announcements or from store staff. Let’s learn how to use it properly!
What It Means
The structure お + verb stem + ください (o + verb stem + kudasai) is a polite way to make requests or give instructions. It’s used to encourage someone to do something in a respectful way, often for their benefit.
When to Use It
This form is best used in formal situations, such as:
- Giving polite instructions in public spaces.
- Addressing customers or clients in a business setting.
- Interactions where a high level of respect is required.
It is not commonly used in casual conversations between friends or family.
Examples
Examples
Here are some examples of how to use お + verb stem + ください (o + verb stem + kudasai):
- お召し上がりください (O-meshiagari kudasai)
Please help yourself (to food).
This phrase uses the honorific verb 召し上がる (meshiagaru), which is a respectful way to say “to eat.” - お休みください (O-yasumi kudasai)
Please rest well.
This example uses the respectful verb お休みになる (oyasumi ni naru), meaning “to sleep.” - 切符をお取りください (Kippu o otori kudasai)
Please take a ticket.
The verb 取る (toru) means “to take.” By adding お (o) and ください (kudasai), it becomes a respectful instruction. - 説明をお読みください (Setsumei o oyomi kudasai)
Please read the instructions.
The verb 読む (yomu) means “to read.” You might see this used in a manual or instructional document.
Special Verbs: When using compound verbs like 注意する (chuui suru), the prefix ご (go) is used instead of お(o). Additionally, some verbs, like 見る (miru) and 食べる (taberu), have special honorific forms such as ご覧になる (goran ni naru) and 召し上がる (meshiagaru).
- ご注意ください (Go-chuu-i kudasai)
Please be careful.
Here, the prefix ご (go) is used instead of お (o) because 注意する (chuui suru) is a compound verb. - ご覧ください (Go-ran kudasai)
Please look.
The verb 見る (miru) changes to ご覧になる (goran ni naru), which is a respectful way to say “to look.”
Note
Don’t Use It for Personal Requests: Even though this structure is polite, it should not be used for personal requests. For example, if you want someone to pass you the salt, you should not say:
Inccorect: 塩をお取りください (Shio o otori kudasai) – This sounds like you’re commanding the person to take the salt for themselves.
Instead, say: 塩を取っていただけませんか (Shio o totte itadakemasen ka) – This is a more appropriate, polite way to ask someone to pass the salt.
Conclusion
Using お + verb stem + ください (o + verb stem + kudasai) is an excellent way to give advice or instructions in a polite and respectful manner. It’s mainly used in formal situations where extra politeness is required. Understanding when and how to use this structure will help you communicate more effectively and respectfully in Japanese.
Recommended Resources
For a deeper understanding of Giving Respectful Advice, I recommend A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. The book provides a clear explanation of this structure under the entry o (prefix), covering its meaning and usage in making polite requests in Japanese. If you want to explore this grammar point in more detail and see more examples of respectful language, this book is an excellent reference to enhance your knowledge of formal Japanese expressions.
