Hello! Have you ever found yourself in these situations in Japan?
"I don't know the train transfer, but I don't know how to ask..."
That's when the magic phrase "Verb Te-form + kudasai" comes in handy!
Mastering this expression will make your life in Japan dramatically smoother. In this article, we'll cover not just the grammar rules, but also "Native Manners" and "Easy ways to memorize" that aren't often found in textbooks.
1. Basic Structure and Usage
Use "๏ฝใฆใใ ใใ (~te kudasai)" when asking someone to do something (making a request) or giving instructions.
Verb Te-form + kudasai (Please ...)
For example, "To read a book (Hon o yomimasu)" becomes "Please read a book (Hon o yonde kudasai)".
2. Complete Guide to Te-form Groups
Japanese verbs are divided into 3 groups. Let's look at how each transforms into the "Te-form".
Group 1: Godan Verbs
This is the most complex group, but the trick is to learn it by "Rhythm"!
โ [u, tsu, ru] โ [tte]
The ending sound jumps.
| Masu Form | Te-form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ไผใใพใ (aimasu) | ไผใฃใฆ (atte) | Please meet me again. |
| ๅพ ใกใพใ (machimasu) | ๅพ ใฃใฆ (matte) | Please wait here. |
| ๅธฐใใพใ (kaerimasu) | ๅธฐใฃใฆ (kaette) | Please go home safely. |
| ่ฒทใใพใ (kaimasu) | ่ฒทใฃใฆ (katte) | Please buy this. |
โก [mu, bu, nu] โ [nde]
Changes to the nasal sound "nde".
| Masu Form | Te-form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ้ฃฒใฟใพใ (nomimasu) | ้ฃฒใใง (nonde) | Please drink medicine. |
| ๅผใณใพใ (yobimasu) | ๅผใใง (yonde) | Please call a taxi. |
| ่ชญใฟใพใ (yomimasu) | ่ชญใใง (yonde) | Please read this. |
โข [ku] โ [ite] / [gu] โ [ide]
ใใ ใซ ๅๅ ใ ๆธใใฆใใ ใใใ
ใใใซ ใชใพใใ ใใใฆ ใใ ใใ
Please write your name here.
"่กใใพใ (ikimasu - to go)" ends with "ku", but it becomes "่กใฃใฆ (itte)",
NOT "iite".
This often appears on tests, so memorize it!
Group 2: Ichidan Verbs
The easiest group! Just remove "masu" and add "te".
| Masu Form | Te-form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ้ฃในใพใ (tabemasu) | ้ฃในใฆ (tabete) | To eat |
| ่ฆใพใ (mimasu) | ่ฆใฆ (mite) | To watch |
| ๅฏใพใ (nemasu) | ๅฏใฆ (nete) | To sleep |
Group 3: Irregular Verbs
Memorize these two special verbs.
- ใใพใ (shimasu) โ ใใฆ (shite)
- ๆฅใพใ (kimasu) โ ๆฅใฆ (kite)
3. [CULTURE] Is "~te kudasai" always polite?
This is an important point often missing from textbooks.
"~te kudasai" is polite, but grammatically it carries a nuance of "instruction/order". Therefore, using it with superiors (like your boss or teacher) might sound slightly demanding or forceful.
To make a request to a superior, use "~te itadakemasen ka? (Would you please...?)".
ร ๅ
็ใใใใ่ฆใฆใใ ใใใ(ใใใใใใใใ ใฟใฆ ใใ ใใ)
โ ๅ
็ใใใใ่ฆใฆใใใ ใใพใใใ๏ผ (ใใใใใใใใ ใฟใฆ ใใใ ใใพใใใ๏ผ)
4. Practical Phrases for Daily Life
Here are some ready-to-use phrases for common situations.
๐ At a Restaurant
ใใฟใพใใใใกใใฅใผ ใ ่ฆใใฆใใ ใใใ
ใใฟใพใใใใกใใฅใผใ ใฟใใฆ ใใ ใใ
Excuse me, please show me the menu.
ใๆฐด ใ ใใ ใใใ
ใใฟใใ ใใ ใใ
Please give me some water.
* If there is no verb, use "Noun + o kudasai".
๐ In a Taxi
ๆฑไบฌ้ง ใพใง ่กใฃใฆใใ ใใใ
ใจใใใใใใใพใง ใใฃใฆ ใใ ใใ
Please go to Tokyo Station.
ใใฎ ่ง ใ ๅณ ใซ ๆฒใใฃใฆใใ ใใใ
ใใฎ ใใฉใ ใฟใใซ ใพใใฃใฆ ใใ ใใ
Please turn right at that corner.
5. Summary
Being able to use "~te kudasai" allows you to clearly convey your intentions. It's okay to make mistakes at first! Japanese people will be happy to see you trying your best to speak.
โก Practice Quiz
Check if you've mastered "~te kudasai"!