Your cart is currently empty!
Tag: japanese grammar for polite speech
-
Making Suggestions and Polite Requests ใพใใใ and ใฆใใ ใใ in Japanese
Mastering Polite Suggestions and Requests in Japanese
If you’re learning Japanese, understanding how to make polite suggestions and requests is a key part of effective communication. Whether you’re planning activities with friends or politely asking for help, two common expressionsโVerb stem + ใพใใใ and Verb stem + ใฆใใ ใใโare your go-to tools. Letโs dive into their usage, including how to form them step by step.
1. Making Suggestions with ใพใใใ (mashou): โLetโs [verb]โ
The expression ใพใใใ is a polite and versatile way to suggest an activity or propose an idea. It carries a collaborative tone, meaning “Letโs do [verb].”
How to Form the ใพใใใ Form
Japanese verbs are divided into three groups, and the method for creating the ใพใใใ form depends on the group.
Group 1: U-Verbs (Godan Verbs)
- Start with the stem of the verb (remove the u-ending).
- Replace the u sound with the i sound.
- Add ใพใใใ.
Verb Stem Change to i Form Add ใพใใใ Example Translation ่กใ ่ก ่กใ ่กใใพใใใ Letโs go. ๆธใ ๆธ ๆธใ ๆธใใพใใใ Letโs write. ่ฉฑใ ่ฉฑ ่ฉฑใ ่ฉฑใใพใใใ Letโs talk.
Group 2: Ru-Verbs (Ichidan Verbs)
- Remove the final ใ.
- Add ใพใใใ.
Verb Stem Add ใพใใใ Example Translation ้ฃในใ ้ฃใน ้ฃในใพใใใ Letโs eat. ่ฆใ ่ฆ ่ฆใพใใใ Letโs look.
Group 3: Irregular Verbs
There are two irregular verbs, and their ใพใใใ forms are as follows:
Verb Change to Stem Add ใพใใใ Example Translation ใใ ใ ใใพใใใ Letโs do it. ๆฅใ (kuru) ๆฅ (ki) ๆฅใพใใใ Letโs come.
When to Use ใพใใใ
- Planning with others:
Example: ๅ ฌๅใธ่กใใพใใใ๏ผ(Kลen e ikimashou!) = Letโs go to the park! - Encouraging teamwork:
Example: ไธ็ทใซๅๅผทใใพใใใใ(Issho ni benkyou shimashou.) = Letโs study together.
The tone is polite, making it suitable for formal and casual settings, as long as itโs a group-oriented activity.
2. Making Requests with ใฆใใ ใใ (tekudasai): โPlease [verb]โ
Before diving into ใฆใใ ใใ, we need to understand how to form the te-form of verbs. The te-form is one of the most fundamental conjugations in Japanese grammar and is used in various contexts beyond requests, such as making commands, linking actions, and creating the polite request structure ใฆใใ ใใ.
How to Make the Te-Form
Japanese verbs are categorized into three groups, and the rules for forming the te-form differ depending on the group.
Group 1: U-Verbs (Godan Verbs)
For verbs ending in ใ, ใค, ใ, ใ, ใถ, ใฌ, ใ, ใ, ใ, follow these rules:
- Replace the final u-sound with its corresponding te-form sound:
Ending Te-Form Rule Example ใ Replace with ใฃใฆ ่ฒทใ (kau) โ ่ฒทใฃใฆ (katte) = Buy ใค Replace with ใฃใฆ ็ซใค (tatsu) โ ็ซใฃใฆ (tatte) = Stand ใ Replace with ใฃใฆ ๅใ (toru) โ ๅใฃใฆ (totte) = Take ใ Replace with ใใง ่ชญใ (yomu) โ ่ชญใใง (yonde) = Read ใถ Replace with ใใง ้ใถ (asobu) โ ้ใใง (asonde) = Play ใฌ Replace with ใใง ๆญปใฌ (shinu) โ ๆญปใใง (shinde) = Die ใ Replace with ใใฆ ๆธใ (kaku) โ ๆธใใฆ (kaite) = Write ใ Replace with ใใง ๆณณใ (oyogu) โ ๆณณใใง (oyoide) = Swim ใ Replace with ใใฆ ่ฉฑใ (hanasu) โ ่ฉฑใใฆ (hanashite) = Speak
Group 2: Ru-Verbs (Ichidan Verbs)
For verbs ending in ใ, simply drop ใ and add ใฆ:
- ้ฃในใ (taberu) โ ้ฃในใฆ (tabete) = Eat.
- ่ฆใ (miru) โ ่ฆใฆ (mite) = Look.
Group 3: Irregular Verbs
There are only two irregular verbs in Japanese:
- ใใ โ ใใฆ = Do.
Example: ๅๅผทใใ (benkyou suru) โ ๅๅผทใใฆ (benkyou shite) = Study. - ๆฅใ (kuru) โ ๆฅใฆ (kite) = Come.
Forming ใฆใใ ใใ
Once you have the te-form of a verb, simply add ใใ ใใ to make a polite request:
- ่ฆใ (miru) โ ่ฆใฆ (mite) + ใใ ใใ = ่ฆใฆใใ ใใ (mite kudasai) = Please look.
- ๆธใ (kaku) โ ๆธใใฆ (kaite) + ใใ ใใ = ๆธใใฆใใ ใใ (kaite kudasai) = Please write.
- ๆไผใ (tetsudau) โ ๆไผใฃใฆ (tetsudatte) + ใใ ใใ = ๆไผใฃใฆใใ ใใ (tetsudatte kudasai) = Please help.
When to Use It
- Asking politely:
Example: ใกใใฃใจๅพ ใฃใฆใใ ใใใ(Chotto matte kudasai.) = Please wait a moment. - Giving instructions:
Example: ใใขใ้ใใฆใใ ใใใ(Doa o shimete kudasai.) = Please close the door.
This phrase is polite and commonly used in both formal and informal situations.
Key Differences Between ใพใใใ and ใฆใใ ใใ
Expression Purpose Tone Verb stem + ใพใใใ Suggestion: “Letโs do [verb]” Collaborative and inclusive Verb stem + ใฆใใ ใใ Request: “Please do [verb]” Respectful and polite
Quick Practice: Try It Out!
Letโs put these into practice. Can you guess the correct form for each scenario?
- Youโre suggesting to a friend: โLetโs watch a movie.โ
Hint: The verb is ่ฆใ (miru).
Answer: ๆ ็ปใ่ฆใพใใใ๏ผ(Eiga o mimashou!) - Youโre asking someone politely: โPlease listen to me.โ
Hint: The verb is ่ใ (kiku).
Answer: ็งใฎ่ฉฑใ่ใใฆใใ ใใใ(Watashi no hanashi o kiite kudasai.)
Conclusion
Mastering ใพใใใ and ใฆใใ ใใ opens up a world of polite and smooth communication in Japanese. By understanding these structuresโand learning how to form the te-form and ใพใใใโyou can make suggestions, request actions, and navigate various social situations with confidence. Practice them in your daily conversations, and soon theyโll become second nature!
What are your favorite phrases using ใพใใใ or ใฆใใ ใใ? Share them in the comments below! Or, if you have any questions about Japanese grammar, feel free to ask. Letโs keep learning togetherโๆฅๆฌ่ชใๆฅฝใใฟใพใใใ๏ผ(Nihongo o tanoshimimashou!) ๐
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog atย My Language Classes. Donโt forget toย subscribeย myย YouTube channelย and follow me onย Instagramย for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! ๐
๐ Continue Learning Japanese