Polite Requests in Japanese: Understanding お~ください (JLPT N4 Grammar)

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Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

A polite way to ask or request someone to perform an action.

🎯 Primary Function

To express a polite command or request towards someone, showing respect.

📋 Grammar Structure

お + ます-stem of a Japanese origin verb (和語) + ください

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Widely used when speaking to superiors, customers, or in formal settings like offices or stores.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in very casual speech among close friends, but can be used to show politeness even informally depending on the relationship and context.

✍️ Written Language

Used in polite written communication, signs, instructions (though ご~ください is also common).

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used in daily polite conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Requesting action
Politely asking someone to do something specific.
Example: 少々お待ちください。 (Please wait a moment.)
Giving instructions
Providing instructions in a respectful manner.
Example: こちらにお名前をお書きください。 (Please write your name here.)
Offering something (indirectly)
Often used with verbs related to seating or waiting, implying an offer.
Example: どうぞ、お座りください。 (Please, sit down.)
📊
Frequency
Very frequent in polite Japanese contexts.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy to understand the structure, but requires knowing which verbs are 和語 and identifying the ます-stem.
Example Sentences
こちらにお座りください。
Please sit here.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a moment.
この紙にお名前をお書きください。
Please write your name on this paper.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Verb Type
This pattern is primarily used with native Japanese verbs (和語 – Wago).
Example: e.g., 待つ (matsu – to wait) -> お待ちください
Stem Form
Always attach to the ます-stem (remove ます from the ます form).
Example: 読みます (yomimasu) -> 読み (yomi) -> お読みください (oyomi kudasai)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using with 漢語 verbs
✅ Use ご~ください instead.
Verbs originating from Chinese (漢語) typically take ご~ください (e.g., 勉強する -> ご勉強ください – although this specific example is less common, other 漢語 verbs like 連絡する -> ご連絡ください are).
❌ Attaching to the dictionary form
✅ Attach to the ます-stem.
The structure is お + ます-stem + ください, not お + dictionary form + ください.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: High politeness.
Social Situations: Used in customer service, business settings, formal instructions, and when showing respect to others.
Regional Variations: Standard usage across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

お~ください vs. ~て ください
お~ください is more formal and polite.
When to use: Use お~ください in formal situations or when showing higher respect; Use ~て ください in more general or casual contexts.
お~ください vs. ご~ください
お~ください is for 和語 verbs, ご~ください is for 漢語 verbs.
When to use: Choose based on the origin of the verb.
お~ください vs. お願いします
お~ください is a direct request for a specific action; お願いします is a more general “please” or a request for a favor.
When to use: Use お~ください when stating the specific action you want done; Use お願いします when making a general request or asking for a favor.

📝 Conjugation Notes

To form the ます-stem, take the ます form of the verb and remove ます. Example: 読みます (yomimasu) -> 読み (yomi).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure clear pronunciation of お and ください. The emphasis is typically on the final ください.

🧠 Memory Tips

Associate お with actions performed by others directed towards you or for your benefit in a respectful way. Remember common set phrases like お待ちください (Please wait) and お座りください (Please sit).

Practice Exercises
Which verb stem is used with お~ください?
Dictionary form
ます-stem
て-form
た-form
What is the polite request form of 待ちます (to wait)?
待ってください
お待ちください
ご待ちください
待つください

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