please do your homework in japanese

Mastering the Phrase: How to Say Homework in Japanese

Are you looking to expand your Japanese language skills? Learning how to express academic tasks like “homework” in Japanese is a great place to start. In this section, we will guide you through the different ways to say “homework” in Japanese, providing you with the necessary tools to communicate more effectively in the language.

Although it may seem simple, expressing “homework” in Japanese is not as straightforward as you may think. Japanese has multiple words and expressions for this concept, depending on the context and level of formality. But fear not! By the end of this article, you will know how to say “homework” in Japanese like a pro.

So, are you ready to learn the Japanese word for homework and other relevant phrases? Let’s get started!

How to Say Homework in Japanese

When it comes to expressing the concept of homework in Japanese, there are various phrases and expressions you can use. Here are some common ways to say “homework” in Japanese:

Note that the word “宿題” (shukudai) is the most commonly used term for “homework” in Japanese. However, the other phrases can also be used depending on the context and level of formality.

How to Say Homework in Japanese in Different Contexts

Depending on the situation, the appropriate Japanese phrase for “homework” may vary. Here are some examples:

• If you want to ask your teacher about the homework: 「今日の宿題は何ですか？」(Kyou no shukudai wa nan desu ka?) which means “What is today’s homework?”
• If you want to tell a friend that you have homework to do: 「宿題があるんだよ」(Shukudai ga aru n da yo) which means “I have homework to do.”
• If you want to express that the homework is difficult: 「宿題が難しいです」(Shukudai ga muzukashii desu) which means “The homework is difficult.”

By using these phrases in the appropriate context, you can effectively communicate about homework in Japanese.

Japanese Vocabulary for Homework

As mentioned earlier, the Japanese language has multiple words and expressions for “homework”, depending on the context and level of formality. Here are some of the most commonly used vocabulary words and phrases related to homework in Japanese:

It’s important to note that the pronunciation of each word and phrase can vary depending on the speaker’s region and dialect, so it’s best to listen to native speakers for proper pronunciation.

Homework Phrase in Japanese

The most commonly used phrase for “homework” in Japanese is “shukudai” (宿題), which is also the most casual and familiar. For a more formal or academic context, “kadai” (課題) can be used instead.

In addition to these phrases, Japanese educators may use the term “jishu gakushu” (自主学習) when referring to self-study or homework outside of class. Students may also use the phrases “yoshu” (予習) for preparing for a lesson and “fukushu” (復習) for reviewing material covered in class or for exams.

By familiarizing yourself with these vocabulary words and phrases, you can accurately express and discuss homework in Japanese conversations.

Ways to Express Homework in Japanese

Japanese has multiple words and expressions for “homework” depending on the context and level of formality. Here are some common ways to express homework in Japanese :

In addition to the words listed above, there are also many expressions commonly used to talk about homework in Japanese. Here are some examples:

• しゅくだいのりょうがおおい
• The amount of homework is large
• まいばんしゅくだいをする
• To do homework every night
• しゅくだいをほうちする
• To leave homework undone

By learning these variations for expressing homework in Japanese, you can showcase your language prowess and effectively communicate about academic tasks in various contexts.

Pronunciation and Usage Tips

Now that you know how to say homework in Japanese and have familiarized yourself with the related vocabulary and expressions, it’s important to understand how to pronounce these phrases correctly.

The Japanese word for homework is しゅくだい (shukudai). To pronounce it correctly, begin with the “shu” sound, which is similar to the English “shoe” sound, but with a slightly shorter duration. Next, move on to the “ku” sound, which is similar to the English “koo” sound. Finally, say “dai” with a long “i” sound, similar to the English word “die.”

Another word commonly used for homework in Japanese is 宿題 (shukudai). To pronounce this word, start with “shu” as before, then say “ku” and “dai” as you did previously. The final syllable “kai” is pronounced with a long “i” sound as in the English word “high.”

It’s important to note that Japanese has different levels of politeness and formality, and the appropriate word choice and expressions will depend on the context and situation. For example, if you want to ask a friend if they have any homework, you might use the phrase “shukudai aru?” which means “Do you have homework?” In a more formal setting, you may use “shukudai ga arimasu ka?” which has the same meaning, but with a higher level of politeness.

By paying attention to pronunciation and using the appropriate level of formality, you can effectively communicate about homework in Japanese. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be a master of the phrase!

Summary and Conclusion

In conclusion, learning the various ways to express “homework” in Japanese is an essential part of mastering the language. The Japanese language has multiple words for homework, and it’s important to understand the context and level of formality when choosing which phrase to use.

By familiarizing yourself with the specific vocabulary and expressions related to homework in Japanese, you can effectively communicate about academic tasks in various contexts. Additionally, understanding the correct pronunciation of these phrases will enhance your language skills and improve your overall communication in Japanese.

We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the different ways to say “homework” in Japanese and has helped you improve your language proficiency. Remember to practice and use these phrases in your Japanese conversations to further enhance your skills!

Q: How do you say “homework” in Japanese?

A: The word for “homework” in Japanese is “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai).

Q: Are there any other ways to express “homework” in Japanese?

A: Yes, besides “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai), you can also use the phrases “宿題をする” (しゅくだいをする, shukudai o suru) which means “to do homework,” or “宿題を出す” (しゅくだいをだす, shukudai o dasu) which means “to assign homework.”

Q: How do you pronounce “宿題”?

A: “宿題” (しゅくだい, shukudai) is pronounced as “shoo-koo-die” in English.

Q: Can you provide an example sentence using the word “宿題”?

A: Sure! An example sentence could be “毎晩、宿題をします” (まいばん、しゅくだいをします, Maiban, shukudai o shimasu) which means “I do homework every night.”

Q: Are there any other words or phrases related to homework in Japanese?

A: Yes, some related words and phrases include “テストの勉強” (てすとのべんきょう, tesuto no benkyou) for “studying for a test” and “レポートを書く” (れぽーとをかく, repooto o kaku) for “writing a report.”

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16 Ways to Say “Please” in Japanese from Onegai and Onward

Being polite is an integral part of Japanese culture.

So knowing how to say “please” in Japanese is a must for social interactions!

You may know some of the basics, like  onegai and kudesai.  But do you know how and when to actually use them? 

And what if you need to say “please” in some more specific social situations? 

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the polite word, “please”!

お願い (Onegai) — Please

お願いします (onegai shimasu) — please [polite].

• お願い申し上げます (Onegai moushi agemasu) — I humbly request [very polite]

ください (Kudasai) — Please [for a request]

ちょうだい (choudai) — please give, プリーズ (purīzu) — please [casual], 願わくば (negawakuba) — if i may humbly request, …いただけないでしょうか (…itadakenaideshou ka) — could you please, additional phrases to use with “please” in japanese, 是非 (zehi) — by all means, absolutely, もしよろしければ (moshi yoroshikereba) — if it’s okay with you, ご検討いただければ幸いです (gokentou itadakereba saiwai desu) — i would be grateful if you could consider, どうか (douka) — somehow, 申し訳ございませんが… (moushiwake gozaimasenga…) — i’m sorry, but…, 大変お手数ですが… (taihen otesuu desu ga…) — i apologize for the trouble, but…, お時間のある時に (o-jikan no aru toki ni) — at your convenience, ご都合の良い時に (go-tsugou no yoi toki ni) — when it suits you , and one more thing....

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This is the most basic way to say “please” in Japanese, and the one you’re most likely to already know. It’s a neutral, all-purpose way to say “please.”

The term originates from the Japanese verb “negau” (願う), which means “to wish” or “to request.” So literally, the word means “I request.”

Not sure which form of please to use? This is the general term to default to. You’ll be understood in any situation!

もう少し静かにして、 お願い 。 (Mōsukoshi shizuka ni shite, onegai .) — Please be a bit quieter.

お会計 お願い 。 (O-kaikei onegai .) — Please bring the bill.

You better believe that in Japanese, the already polite word “please” has several even more polite forms!

Onegai shimasu is a more polite form of  onegai, which means you generally use it when making a request to someone of higher status or authority, or just in a more formal setting. 

It’s a combination of お願い (onegai), meaning “request” or “favor,” and the polite verb ending します (shimasu), which is the polite form of the verb “to do.” Together, it translates to “please do (something)” or “please (do) me a favor.”

会議の資料を送ってもらえると助かります。 お願いします 。 (Kaigi no shiryou o okutte moraeru to tasukari masu. Onegai shimasu. ) — It would be helpful if you could send me the meeting materials. Please.

お願いします 、あなたのアドバイスが必要です。 ( Onegai shimasu, anata no adobaisu ga hitsuyou desu.) — Please, I need your advice.

お願い申し上げます (Oneg ai moushi  agemasu)  — I humbly request [very polite]

This is the most polite form of  onegai,  the final evolution in formality, if you will. The expression adds the polite “moushiagemasu,” which is a humble form of the verb “to say” or “to express.” 

It’s used in the most formal situations, such as when making a request to a dignitary. You’re not that likely to use it yourself (unless you’ve got some connections in the higher echelons of Japanese society) but you might hear it in news reports or other official media. 

お手伝いいただければ幸いです。 お願い申し上げます 。 (O-tetsudai itadakereba saiwai desu. Onegai moushi agemasu .) — I would be grateful if you could help. I sincerely request your assistance.

こちらをお貸しいただけますと助かります。 お願い申し上げます 。 (Kochira wo okashi itadakemasuto tasukari masu. Onegai moushi agemasu .) — I would appreciate it if you could lend me this. Thank you very much.

Kudasai is derived from the verb くださる (kudasaru), which is a polite way of saying “to give” or “to do for me.” 

The word is a more casual and direct way of making a request. It’s used in most everyday situations and doesn’t carry the same respect and humility as  onegai. 

If you just want to ask your sister to pass the salt, use kudasai. If you want to ask your coworker to help you carry all your notes to the meeting, use onegai.  

It’s pretty easy to use, as you can literally just add  kudasai  to whatever it is you want. If you’re requesting a noun, use this sentence structure:

 [Object] をください ([Object] o kudasai)

For a verb, you’ll need to use the verb’s te-form, like this: 

[Verb in te-form] ください ([Verb in te-form] kudasai)

飲み物を ください 。 (Nomimono o kudasai .) — Please give me a drink.

座って ください 。 (Suwatte kudasai .) — Please sit down.

メニューを ください 。 (Menyū o kudasai .) — Please give me the menu.

Choudai is similar to  kudasai in usage and meaning, but it’s a more casual term. It has a childish ring to it—picture a little kid asking their parent to buy them something at the store. 

水を ちょうだい 。 (Mizu o choudai .) — Water, please.

本を ちょうだい 。 (Hon o choudai .) — The book, please.

もう一度説明して ちょうだい 。 (Mō ichido setsumei shite choudai .) — Please explain it again.

Sound familiar? This is a borrowed word from English, used in very casual settings. It’s especially used among younger people, usually in spoken communication. 

もう一度教えてくれる？ プリーズ 。 (Mou ichido oshiete kureru? Purīzu .) — Can you tell me one more time? Please.

ちょっと手伝ってくれる？ プリーズ 。 (Chotto tetsudatte kureru? Purīzu .) — Can you help me for a moment? Please.

Here’s one for the history books, literally. This term is an archaic expression that literally means “if it may be wished for.” The phrase is used to express a polite request or a wish, often found in formal or written language. It’s not commonly used in everyday spoken Japanese, but you might encounter it in literature or older texts.

願わくば 、お手すきの際にお知らせいただければと存じます。 ( Negawakuba , otesuki no sai ni oshirase itadakereba tozonjimasu.) — If I may humbly request, I would appreciate it if you could let me know when you have a moment.

願わくば 、ご意見をお聞かせいただければと考えております。 ( Negawakuba , otesuki no sai ni oshirase itadakereba tozonjimasu.) — If I may be so bold as to ask, I would like to hear your opinion.

This one might sound familiar, too—it’s rooted in the verb だく (itadaku), which means “to receive” and is also the root for the phrase you say before you eat,  itadakimasu. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of this expression: 

• いただけない (Itadakenai): This is the potential form of the verb いただく (itadaku), which means “to receive” or “to be given.” The potential form here implies the ability or possibility to receive or do something.
• でしょうか (deshou ka): This is a polite expression that is often added to a sentence to make a request. It softens the request and adds a sense of politeness.

So, the whole phrase いただけないでしょうか (…Itadakenaideshou ka) translates to something like “Could I receive?” or “Would it be possible for me to receive?” This expression is commonly used in formal or polite situations where you want to make a request in a respectful manner.

この資料をお送り いただけないでしょうか ？ (Kono shiryou wo o-okuri itadakenaideshou ka ?) — Could you please send me this document?

この問題について助言を いただけないでしょうか ？ (Kono mondai ni tsuite jogen o itadakenaideshou ka ?) — Could you please give me some advice on this issue?

The following words don’t mean “please” on their own. Instead, they’re often used in conjunction with one of the words you just learned above.

They can make the difference between a simple request like “Menu, please” and “If it’s convenient for you, by all means, please procure the menu for me.” 

Of course, you don’t have to go full Jeeves on the waiter like I did in the above example, but the phrases below add an extra layer of politeness and consideration for the person you’re asking something of. 

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This phrase is used to express strong desire or intention, close to the English expression “would you kindly?”

It can be used to emphasize a request or to make it clear that you’re asking for something specifically. It’s often used to convey a strong recommendation or a sincere desire for something to be done. 

是非 、お知らせください。 ( Zehi, oshirase kudasai.) — By all means, please let me know.

是非 、ご意見をお聞かせください。 ( Zehi, go-iken o okikase kudasai.) — Absolutely, please share your opinion with us.

This phrase politely asks for something if it’s convenient for the other person. It’s a good expression to use when you’re asking for permission, making a suggestion or making a polite request from someone. 

もしよろしければ 、明日の会議にご参加いただけますでしょうか？ ( Moshi yoroshikereba , ashita no kaigi ni go-sanka itadakemasu deshou ka?) — If it’s okay with you, could you please join the meeting tomorrow?

その資料を もしよろしければ 、ご確認いただけますでしょうか？ (Sono shiryou o moshi yoroshikereba , go-kakunin itadakemasu deshou ka?) — If it’s okay with you, could you please review that document?

This extra formal phrase is often used in formal or business communication to politely request someone’s thoughtful consideration or review of a matter. 

ご検討いただければ幸いです 。新しいプロジェクトにご参加いただけますと幸いです。 ( Gokentou itadakereba saiwai desu . Atarashii purojekuto ni go-sanka itadakemasu to saiwai desu.) — I would be grateful if you could consider it. I would appreciate it if you could participate in the new project.

この提案を ご検討いただければ幸いです 。 (Kono teian wo gokentou itadakereba saiwai desu . ) — I would be grateful if you could consider this proposal. 

This emphasizes your wish or request, often used with other formal phrases like “onegaishimasu.” It’s used to make a polite request or to express a hope or wish, giving your request a more earnest tone. 

どうか お願いします。 ( Douka onegaishimasu.) — Please, I humbly request.

お手数をおかけしますが、 どうか お願いいたします。   (Otesuu wo okake shimasu ga, douka onegai itashimasu.) — I apologize for the inconvenience, but please, I request [your understanding/help].”

This phrase is often used to convey a sense of apology or to soften the impact of delivering unwelcome news. You can use it in conjunction with the words that mean “please” to apologize for any inconvenience before making a request. 

お手数をおかけして 申し訳ございませんが 、もう一度ご確認いただけますでしょうか？ (Otesuu wo okakeshite moushiwake gozaimasen ga , mou ichido go-kakunin itadakemasu deshou ka?) — I’m sorry, but could you please check it again for me?

申し訳ございませんが 、もう一度お時間をいただければと存じます。 ( Moushiwake gozaimasen ga , mou ichido o-jikan wo itadakereba to zonjimasu.) — I’m sorry, but if I could have a little more of your time, I would appreciate it.

This phrase acknowledges that the request might be troublesome before asking. It’s another way to express an apology before making a request.

大変お手数ですが 、今一度メールをご確認いただけますでしょうか？ ( Taihen otesuu desu ga , ima ichido me-ru wo go-kakunin itadakemasu deshou ka?) — I’m sorry to bother you, but could you please check your email once again?

大変お手数ですが 、お名前と連絡先を教えていただけますでしょうか？ ( Taihen otesuu desu ga , o-namae to renrakusaki wo oshiete itadakemasu deshou ka?) — I apologize for the trouble, but could you please provide your name and contact information?

Use this one exactly as you’d use the English translation, to ask for something from someone else when they have the time to complete your request. It’s a polite way to ask for someone’s time or attention without directly imposing on their schedule. 

Although it can be used in any formality level, it’s more on the formal side and is more often used in professional settings. 

お時間のある時に 、お電話いただけますでしょうか？ ( O-jikan no aru toki ni , o-denwa itadakemasu deshou ka?) — When you have a moment, would you please give me a call?

お時間のある時に 、ご意見をお聞かせいただけますと幸いです。 ( O-jikan no aru toki ni , go-iken wo o-kikase itadakemasuto saiwai desu.) — When you have time, I would be happy if you could share your opinions.

This phrase is very similar to the previous, with a stronger emphasis on the request recipient’s convenience. It’s another polite way to request someone’s time or attention. 

ご都合の良い時に 、ご一緒にランチはいかがでしょうか？ ( Go-tsugou no yoi toki ni , go-issho ni ranchi ikaga deshou ka?) — Whenever you’re free, how about going to lunch together?

ご都合の良い時に 、この提案についてご検討いただけますでしょうか？ ( Go-tsugou no yoi toki ni , kono teian ni tsuite go-kentou itadakemasu deshou ka?) — At your convenience, could you please consider this proposal?

Now go ahead and study these ways to say “please” in Japanese, at your earliest convenience. Please and thank you!

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How to Say Homework in Japanese Hiragana

Learning a new language involves not only memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules but also understanding various aspects of its culture. As you dive into the Japanese language, it’s important to acquire everyday vocabulary that includes terms like “homework.” In Japanese, the word for homework can be expressed using hiragana, one of the three main scripts used in writing. This guide will provide you with the formal and informal ways to say homework in Japanese and offer several tips and examples to assist your learning journey.

1. The Formal Way: 宿題 (しゅくだい)

In formal situations, such as when talking to your teachers or superiors, the appropriate term for homework in Japanese is “宿題” (しゅくだい). This word is written using kanji characters but can also be expressed in hiragana as “しゅくだい.” The pronunciation remains the same, but it emphasizes the formal and polite context.

Example: 先生、宿題を提出しました。(Sensei, shukudai o teishutsu shimashita.) Translation: Teacher, I have submitted my homework.

2. The Informal Way: テスト (てすと)

In informal and casual conversations with friends or peers, the Japanese language often adopts loanwords from English. In this context, the word “homework” is commonly replaced with the borrowed term “テスト” (てすと), which directly translates to “test” in English but is used more broadly to refer to homework as well.

Example: 明日、てすとがたくさんあるよ。(Ashita, tesuto ga takusan aru yo.) Translation: I have a lot of homework tomorrow.

These informal expressions can be used comfortably among friends or when in casual settings, but it’s essential to be mindful of your audience and the level of politeness required in the given situation.

3. Additional Regional Variations

In addition to the formal and informal ways mentioned above, regional variations exist within Japan. While these may not typically be used in everyday conversation, it’s useful to be aware of them to deepen your understanding of the language’s diversity. Here are a few regional variations for the word homework:

• 関東 (かんとう) Variation: テツド (てつど) This variation is used in the Kanto region, which includes major cities like Tokyo. The pronunciation “テツド” represents the word “宿題” (しゅくだい) in hiragana form.
• 九州 (きゅうしゅう) Variation: モド (もど) People in the Kyushu region, located in southwestern Japan, may use the term “モド” (もど) for homework instead of the more standard expressions.

4. Tips for Learning Vocabulary

Building vocabulary skills is crucial when learning any language, including Japanese. Here are some tips to help you effectively learn and reinforce new words:

• Create Flashcards: Write the Japanese term for homework on one side of the flashcard and its English translation on the other. Test yourself regularly to enhance memorization.
• Use Mnemonics: Conjure up mental images or associate the word “しゅくだい” or other variations with something memorable. For example, you could imagine a school bus that transports homework instead of students.
• Practice with Native Speakers: Engage in language exchange programs or find Japanese language partners to practice speaking and using new vocabulary in conversations.
• Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with Japanese media, such as anime or dramas, and actively listen for vocabulary in context. This exposure helps reinforce your understanding of how words are used.

Congratulations on taking the initiative to learn how to say “homework” in Japanese using hiragana! Remember that “宿題” (しゅくだい) is the formal term, while “テスト” (てすと) represents the more informal way to refer to homework, even though it directly translates to “test” in English. Be mindful of the context and level of politeness required in various situations.

Additionally, knowing regional variations, such as the Kanto region’s “テツド” (てつど) and the Kyushu region’s “モド” (もど), can deepen your understanding of the language’s diversity.

Remember to employ effective vocabulary learning techniques, such as flashcards, mnemonics, conversation practice, and language immersion, to reinforce new words and concepts effectively.

Enjoy your journey of learning the Japanese language and discovering its rich cultural heritage!

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Learning a new language can be an exciting and challenging journey. If you're interested in picking up Japanese and want to ask someone to teach you, you'll need to know how to express yourself in Japanese. In this guide, we'll explore different ways to ask "Can you teach me Japanese?" in both formal and informal contexts. We'll provide you with various tips and examples along the way to help you on your language learning quest.

Japanese Translation: How to Say "Chat" in Japanese

Learning how to say "chat" in Japanese is useful whether you're planning a trip to Japan or simply interested in expanding your language skills. In this guide, we will cover both the formal and informal ways to express this concept. Additionally, we will provide tips, examples, and insights into regional variations where necessary. Let's dive in!

How to Say "Do You Speak Japanese?" in Japanese - Formal and Informal Ways

Learning how to communicate in different languages can help foster connections and create meaningful experiences. In this guide, we will explore various ways to ask "Do you speak Japanese?" in the Japanese language. We will cover both formal and informal ways to address this question, providing you with tips, examples, and even some regional variations. Let's dive in!

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Table of Contents

Conjugating する, noun + する (する verbs), する for "to do", する for "to have" or "to take", する for "to make", する for "to play", する for "to wear (accessories)", 〜にする for selecting or deciding something, price + する for indicating how much something costs, する for what you do for a living, 〜を + い-adjective く form + する, する with adverbs, する with onomatopoeia, 〜がする for reporting sensations and feelings.

する is a versatile verb that basically means "to perform an action," and there's a lot of similarity between する and its English equivalent, "to do." Both can refer to an action in general, for example, without specifying what that action is:

• I'll do it.

Of course, you can also use it when you want to specify what kind of action you're doing. Let's take a look at an example using 宿題 (homework):

• to do homework

However, する and "to do" aren't always interchangeable. There are meanings that only "to do" has, and there are also a number of uses that are unique to する. For instance, you wouldn't say "to do" when putting on accessories in English, like "to do a necklace," but it is common to use する for putting on accessories in Japanese.

• to put on a necklace

And, this is just the tip of the iceberg — する is a must-know verb that is very versatile and useful to keep in your pocket. Read on, and you'll find out all kinds of ways you can use する!

To master the useful する verb, you should first know how to conjugate it. する is an irregular verb, which means that there are no other verbs that conjugate the way it does. Conjugating する is pretty straightforward though. As seen in the below table, only the base form する begins with す (su). When you conjugate it, you'll have to change す to し (shi). Then, instead of る, you'll use different polite or plain endings like ます or た .

Patterns of Use

Now, let's take a look at how する can be used in sentences. Since it has many different applications, you often see it paired up with various particles or other grammar components. Note however that you will see する following a noun most of the time. There may be a particle between the two, but the noun usually comes first. This is because する is like a generic placeholder verb — it is often used when actions don't have their own verbs to describe them. In these cases, actions usually have a name (noun form) instead. For example, 宿題 (homework) is a noun, and it doesn't have a specific verb that describes the action of doing homework. So you use する, or "to do," as a verb. In the following sections, we'll take a closer look at common patterns used with する.

When する is used for a specific action, it is generally used with the particle を because it marks an object (in this case, the thing being done).

• to do the laundry

Sometimes, particles other than を can be used to mark an object and express a different meaning. For example, imagine your mom asks you about your homework when you're playing a video game. To say "I'll do my homework too" (in addition to all that gaming), you can replace を with the particle も (meaning "too") and say:

• I'll do my homework too.

Next, your mom asks you to help her with some house chores. To tell her you'll do the laundry but not the other chores, you can replace を with the particle は to mark the comparison, like:

• I'll do the laundry (but not other chores).

You can also use する when selecting something (from a number of options). In this case, the thing you're selecting is marked by the particle に .

Say you're in a donut shop, deciding what kind of donut to buy. When you've made your final decision, you might use 〜にする and say:

• I'll go with this one.

〜にする can also be used with a different meaning, "to change the state of something/someone (else)," but we'll talk about that usage later on.

You can also use する to report on sensations like smell and taste, or on feelings you experience. In this case, the sensation or feeling is marked by the particle が .

For example, if you wake up and smell coffee, you can use 〜がする with コーヒーのにおい (smell of coffee) and say:

• コーヒーのにおい がする 。
• I smell coffee. ( Literally : It smells of coffee.)

We'll see more examples of this use later on this page .

する can turn a variety of nouns into verbs, and these noun-based verbs are called する verbs. Many of the words that する can make into verbs are compound words of Chinese origin (Sino-Japanese), such as 旅行 (travel). In other words, if the word is made of multiple kanji with on'yomi readings, that's a good sign that you could just attach する at the end and use it as a verb. And of course, the noun should be something actionable/doable, like "travel."

It's also common to use する with loanwords from other countries, such as ドライブ (drive).

Note you can often use the particle を to mark the compound or loan word itself as the direct object of する, such as 旅行 を する or ドライブ を する. The two versions technically mean the same thing, but the one with を puts a little more emphasis on the specific action — not on the doing itself, in other words, but on what you're doing. If it helps, you can kind of imagine the noun that を marks as being underlined.

As said in the beginning, する has a number of uses that are akin to the English "to do." The most prevalent ones are everyday tasks, such as 洗い物をする (to do the dishes) or 洗濯をする (to do the laundry). Here is a list of some examples, with some nonstandard translations given in parentheses.

Another example is workout-related expressions that use する in Japanese and "to do" in English. Many workout actions don't have a specific verb, so it's common to use する to express them.

To express certain activities, especially occasions that involve other people, like a party or a meeting, it's common to use "to have" in English. There are also activities that you express with the verb "to take," like a walk or a trip. However, in Japanese, we can often use する instead, for the nouns that usually combine with "have" or "take" in English.

Here are some examples:

You should also know that while する is a versatile verb that works for all this, some of these activities could also be described with more specific verbs too. You can say お茶を飲む (to drink tea), for example, or パーティーを開く ("to have a party" in Japanese; literally "to open a party").

する can also be used as a translation for some of the English expressions that use "to make." When する is used this way, it is commonly used when preparing something or making a public announcement.

する can also mean "to play" when playing a game, sport, or role.

Be aware that instruments are an exception! You don't normally use する for playing instruments. Instead, you'd usually use a word like 弾く (to play) or 演奏する (to perform).

• to play the guitar
• to give a piano performance

However, する can be used to describe a state in which someone is practicing music habitually. For example, if you found out your friend is taking piano lessons, you can use the ている form of する and say:

• え、ピアノ してる の？
• Oh, you're taking piano lessons?

Note that the particle を is often omitted in casual conversation, as above.

Even though there's another verb, 付ける, which can be used for wearing accessories, する can also come into play when putting on accessories such as jewelry, glasses, scarves, ties, and so on. So if you're planning to put on a red necktie tomorrow, you could say:

• 明日は赤いネクタイを する 。
• I'll put on a red necktie tomorrow.

Note that if you want to say you're currently wearing the accessories in question, you'll commonly change する to している (the ている form ). To say you're wearing a red necktie today, for example:

• 今日は赤いネクタイを している 。
• I'm wearing a red necktie today.

For more examples of this use, check out the below list!

You've already seen some examples of how 〜にする is used when selecting something, but let's do a quick review. Imagine you're in a cafe with your friend and you're looking at the menu to figure out what to order. To ask your friend which one they're thinking of choosing, you can use 〜にする with the question word どれ (which one) and say:

• Which one are you going to pick?

Then, if your friend decides on the cake set, they may say:

• ケーキセット にする 。
• I'm gonna do the cake set.

Piece of cake, right? This nuance of 〜にする can also be applied when you're deciding what to do. For example, say you're studying with your friend when your stomach grumbles. If you want to take a break for lunch, you can ask:

• そろそろランチ にする ？
• Want to do lunch soon?

In this example, 〜にする implies that the action in question can be taken at your discretion — or the listener's. It lets them know the decision is still theirs, so it's suitable for when you want to softly suggest that it's time to do something.

Beyond the Basics

When following an amount of money, する can also indicate how much something costs. This use of する is often used when you feel the cost is too expensive.

• Oh no, it costs 10,000 yen!

It's also common to emphasize the amount of money using the particle も .

• げ、一万円 も する！

する can also be used to talk about your occupation or the role you play (at work, on a team, and so on). For example, if you were assigned to be a team leader at work, you can use チームリーダー with する and say:

• チームリーダーを する ことになった。
• It turns out that I will be the team leader.

For an occupation or role, you can also conjugate する to している (the ている form ) to show it's an ongoing state. So if your brother is a police officer, you can say:

• 兄は警察官を している 。
• My older brother works as a police officer.

And if you are explaining that you work as a manager, you can say:

• マネージャーを しています 。
• I work as a manager.

〜を〜にする for "Turning … Into …"

When you turn one thing into another thing (like water into wine or lead into gold, for example), you can use 〜にする to express that change in state. In this usage, you mark what you are changing with the particle を and mark the result of a change of state with the particle に .

The result of the change (the part marked by に) can be a noun, such as 社長 (company president).

• カナエ を 社長 にする 。
• I'll make Kanae the company president.

Or, it can also be a な-adjective, such as 簡単 (easy).

• テスト を 簡単 にする 。
• I'll make the test easy.

Note in this pattern, the 〜を part is often omitted when it's obvious from the context or situation.

The use of する as "to turn … into …" can also work with い-adjectives. When the result of a change of state is described with an い-adjective, you'll need to turn it into the く form and add する, instead of adding 〜にする.

For example, the く form of かわいい (cute) is かわいく, so if you're styling your hair in a cute way, you can say:

• 髪型 を かわいく する 。
• I'll make my hairstyle cute.

する can also be attached to adverbs. By adverbs, I mean words like ゆっくり (slowly), the adverb form of い-adjectives , such as 早く (quickly) or 強く (strongly), or the adverb form of a な-adjective, such as 大事に.

When する comes right after adverbs, it indicates the act of doing something in a certain manner. For example, if you're being slow preparing for school in the morning, your mom might use 早くする and say:

• Hurry up! ( Literally : Do it quickly!)

Many of these combinations are also employed as idioms. For instance, ゆっくりする can mean not only "to do something slowly" but also "to enjoy doing something at your own pace." As a result, it's a typical expression used to advise a guest to "make themselves at home," "enjoy their stay," "take it easy," or something along those lines.

• ゆっくりしてくださいね。
• Enjoy your stay.

Here's another example of a common adverb-する pair: 大事にする. This indicates the act of "treating something with care." Therefore, it's used when you look after someone or when you treasure something. For example, if you have a girlfriend, someone may give you advice such as:

• 彼女のこと、大事にするんだぞ！
• You should look after your girlfriend.

Remember how する can be used when turning something into something else ? It's the same idea here — the combination of an adverb and する can indicate the act of changing something's condition a certain way — in other words, it can indicate a willful change . Let's say you're in the backseat of a car and it's too hot. You want to ask someone in the front seat to turn up the A/C. For that, you can use 強くする and say:

• 冷房、もうちょっと強くしてくれない？
• Can you turn up the A/C a little more?

する can directly attach to an onomatopoeic word and turn it into a verb as well. For example, する can be added to ドキドキ (onomatopoeia for heartbeats):

• to be nervous/thrilled

Japanese onomatopoeia is often a repetition of the same sound, such as ドキドキ. It's to represent that the sound or action repeats or continues. On the other hand, if it's used only once, it expresses a momentary sound or action. When the unrepeated version consists of one or two syllables, you usually need to add っ/ッ with と between the word and する.

• to feel shocked
• to be stunned

If the unrepeated onomatopoeia has more than two syllables, you can simply add 〜とする directly.

• to get startled

する can also be used to report your sensations. In this case, you use the particle が to mark the sensation. So let's say you've lost your sense of taste or smell due to a temporary illness. When you've recovered and notice you can taste or smell things again, you may use 〜がする and say:

• I can taste it. ( Literally : It has a taste.)
• I can smell it. ( Literally : It has a smell.)

But unless you're in a unique situation like this one where you realize you can suddenly taste or smell again, the sensations you report are normally more descriptive. For example, if you pop a candy in your mouth and find it's strawberry-flavored, you could say:

• イチゴの味 がする 。
• This tastes like strawberry.

When you're starving and you smell something delicious cooking, you may say:

• いいにおい がする 。
• I smell something good. ( Literally : It smells good.)

You can also use 〜がする when describing how you feel. For example, if you're sad, you can say:

• 悲しい気持ち がする 。
• I feel sad.

When you use 〜がする, however, it sounds like you're more objectively describing how you feel. You might use it while communicating your feelings to others, but when simply expressing your sad emotion, it's more common just to say 悲しい (I'm sad).

Since 〜がする indicates that you're articulating a sense, it's suitable when you suspect that something is the case or something might happen. For example, if you're watching a detective show and suspect a mail carrier is the culprit, you can say:

• あの郵便屋さんが犯人な気 がする 。
• I have a feeling that the mail carrier is the culprit.

Also, if you are positive that you will be able to visit Japan this year, you can say:

• 今年は日本に行ける気 がする 。
• I have a feeling that I can go to Japan this year.

How To Say ‘Please’ In Japanese

Asking someone for a service or favour is never complete without saying ‘please’ and i n Japanese, ‘please’ is usually translated as either onegaishimasu or kudasai . But what’s the difference between these two words and are there more? 

Yes, there are many words for ‘please’ in Japanese and as always, context is king! Saying ‘please’ in Japanese can change depending on whether you’re asking for something from a friend, a child, a waitress or your boss. 

There are also some words for ‘please’ in Japanese with more of a feminine or masculine nuance.

Understanding which word is more appropriate is just as important as memorizing the word itself! Do you share a close relationship with the person? Is it a formal setting where you would like to highlight the position of the listener? Perhaps you want to humble yourself when making a request or maybe you want to indicate your authority! 

Whatever the scenario, here are the must-know phrases for how to say ‘please’ in Japanese! 

下さい / ください Please (give me something / do something)

Kudasai literally means ‘please give me’ and is used to make simple, neutral requests with either a verb or a noun, for example mite kudasai (look please) or kohi kudasai (coffee please). Though it’s not the most polite way of saying ‘please’ in Japanese, it’s fine to use kudasai when asking for something of somebody who is equal to or inferior to you in age / rank / status or when ordering something as a customer.  

At an izakaya (a Japanese pub) you could order drink by saying:

Nama wo futatsu kudasai!  生を二つください! なまをふたつください！ Two draft beers please! (Two beers on tap)

As you can see, you can specify ‘how much’ of something you’d like to request, by using the を particle followed by the counter, for example: mikan wo hitotsu kudasai (ミカンを一つください) ‘one orange please’.

Kudasai can sound quite direct compared to onegaishimasu (which we will go over next). You would never use kudasai to someone of superior rank within a workplace for example.

To make a simple request using kudasai , you can either say noun + kudasai  or you can use the – te form of a verb as follows: 

Suwatte kudasai .  座って ください 。 すわってください。 Please sit down.

Koko ni sainshite kudasai .  ここにサインして ください 。 Please sign here.

It would be rude if you removed kudasai from the above phrases and instead just say suwatte (sit) or koko ni sainshite (sign here) , unless you were speaking to a friend. 

In customer service settings, the verb matsu 待つ (to wait) is often used with kudasai but with it’s – masu form which is machimasu (待ちます). So instead of using the -te form and saying 待ってください its more polite to say お待ちください which is basically the difference between ‘wait please’ vs ‘just one moment please’. 

A receptionist at a hotel would never say matte kudasai (please wait) to a customer, instead they would say:

Shou shou o machi kudasai. 少々お待ちください。 しょうしょう おまちください。 Wait a moment, please. / Please wait a little. / Please hold for a moment (on the phone)

Or in some cases, chotto matte kudasai (ちょっと待ってください）can be used to soften the phrase. 

Kudasaimase is the polite, imperative form of kudasai used by staff in customer-service settings to make respectful requests to customers in a shop.

Kudasaimase is more commonly used by those identifying as females and is formed by adding – mase to the end of kudasai, allowing staff to gently command customers (who are considered above them) to do something:

Tsutsu ga naku o sugoshi kudasaimase. つつがなくお過ごしくださいませ 。 つつがなく おすごし くださいませ 。 Please take your time without any trouble. 

Kudasai sounds very formal when used with friends. A good alternative you can use in casual settings is choudai (ちょうだい) see below!

Onegaishimasu

お願いします　/　おねがいします Please (polite)

Onegashimasu is a very useful phrase for saying ‘please’ in Japanese because it’s universally polite so it can be used in almost any situation. It comes from the noun negau (願う) which means ‘hope’. 

Onegaishimasu focuses on politely requesting as opposed to asking someone to give something to you or do something for you like kudasai. 

The cool thing about onegaishimasu is that on it’s own, it is an honorific form of saying ‘please’ in Japanese but it can easily be made more polite or more casual to suit your needs. 

For example, you can just say onegai (お願い）to a friend if you want to request something from them like kohi onegai (コヒーお願い) to say ‘coffee please!’. 

On the other hand, when you want to elevate the position of the person you are speaking to, you change the ending to itashimasu as in onegai itashimasu !

Some say that onegaishimasu and kudasai are interchangeable, but onegaishimasu is actually far more appropriate in a professional setting. The fact that you can use onegaishimasu but not kudasai towards someone superior demonstrates this. 

You can still use onegaishimasu in the same way as kudasai when ordering something at a restaurant, so like our beer example above, you could say nama wo futatsu onegaishimasu (生を二つお願いします）。

If you’re about to pay for something and you are asked whether you’ll pay by card or cash, you can say ‘card please’ by saying kaado de onegaishimasu (カードでお願いします)。

Onegaishimasu is also used by itself in a few situations. You can use it to politely get the attention of an employee at a restaurant. If you see a waiter / waitress who seems to be free, you can just call out sumimasen, onegaishimasu ! (すみません、お願いします！) and they will respond ‘ haii!’ and quickly attend to you.

The other way to use onegaishimasu by itself is when responding to someone and in this case it has the same meaning as ‘yes please!’

For example, if you went to a store to try on a t-shirt and it was too small, the staff member might offer to get you a bigger size by saying o kyaku sama ni motto ookii no saizu motte kimasu ka? / お客様にもっと大きいのサイズ持ってきますか？(Should I get a larger size for you?) You can simply respond onegaishimasu! It would not work to say kudasai here. 

頂戴　/　ちょうだい Please (informal)

Choudai is a casual expression to say ‘please’ in Japanese and while it can be used by both men and women, it has a feminine nuance. The reason is because mothers use choudai when talking to children in an imperative way for example ‘please eat’ as in tabete choudai  (食べてちょうだい) or ‘ show me please’ as in misete choudai (見せてちょうだい).

If you wanted to have a piece of your friend’s food you could say chotto choudai (ちょっとちょうだい)  which means ‘Can I have a bit?’ or ‘Can I have a piece?’ 

Significant others can also use choudai when asking each other to do something, for example ‘get me a pen please’: pen choudai  (ペンちょうだい。) 

Like most words for ‘please’ in Japanese, you can modify the politeness by adding honorific stems to choudai.

Many supermarket cashiers, particularly female, will use choudai with the polite stem – itashimasu when telling you how much you need to pay. For example:

Sen ni hyaku en de choudai itashimasu.  1,200円で頂戴致します. 1,200えんでちょうだいいたします。 That will be 1,200 yen please. 

どうぞ Please (accept this) 

Douzo has two main uses: a way to offer something to someone in the same way we would say ‘Please help yourself’ ‘Please, have ~ / take ~ ’ in English or as a way to give permission as in ‘please, go ahead’. 

When employees speak to customers in Japan, they often use douzo to politely usher them into trying something or inviting them to take a look at something. 

A host may say to a guest, douzo wo agari kudasai (どうぞを上がりください）which is literally ‘please come up’ but means ‘please, come in’. 

While pouring you a glass of water and placing it on the table the waiter / waitress might say o mizu douzo (お水をどうぞ) which is like ‘Here’s some water’. 

It’s also common to use douzo as ‘Please, after you’ when giving permission to someone to do something. For example, when leaving a room with a group of people, the person holding the door might say douzo with an open hand gesture to tell you to go first or if you were at a shop looking for something and the staff member wanted you to follow them, they would say kochira e douzo (こちらへどうぞ) as in ‘this way please’. 

In formal speech, douzo is used to add extra politeness in combination with kudasai or onegaishimasu in some set phrases:  

Douzo o kake kudasai. どうぞおかけてください。 Please have a seat. 

Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.  どうぞよろしくお願いします。 どうぞよろしくおねがいします。 Pleased to meet you. / It’s a pleasure to meet you 

Douzo on it’s own is used when you want to politely offer something to someone, similar to how we say ‘here you go’ in English. Informally, people also say hai (はい) when they want to give you something, but douzo is much more polite and formal. 

Finally, douzo is used to give permission for example if someone says ‘May I take a photo?’ You can politely say ‘sure, go ahead’ by using douz o. 

プーリズ Please

Japanese versions of English words can be difficult to understand, so we needed to include puurizu as one of the ways to say ‘please’ in Japanese, just so you know what you’re hearing if you ever go to Japan!

Again, the use of katakana in this phrase clearly tells us it’s a foreign word, and indeed puurizu is just ‘please’ with Japanese-friendly pronunciation. 

It’s casual and is sometimes used in conjunction with douzo if a store employee is aware that you don’t speak Japanese. They may try to express their desire for you to help yourself or feel free to look around by saying puurizu! 

Set phrases which use kudasai or onegaishimasu

There are set phrases which only use either kudasai OR onegaishimasu such as ‘ganbatte kudasai’ which means ‘Do your best!’. You do not say ganbatte onegaishimasu . 

Similarly, you can say yoroshiku onegaishimasu when you meet someone for the first time, but you do not say yoroshiku kudasai – you will get some very strange looks!

A note on making polite requests in Japanese 

We often say the word ‘please’ in English when we want to make polite requests in formal situations starting with ‘Can’ ‘Could’ or ‘May’’ for example ‘Can I have your name please?’ or ‘Could you call me a taxi please?’ 

In Japanese there are set phrases to make polite requests such as these, instead of directly saying ‘please’:

(request)  +   shite mo ii desu ka? (〜してもいいですか？）casual

• kuremasen ka?　 （〜くれませんか？） formal / polite
• itadakemasen ka? (〜いただけませんか？)  very formal / polite

For example:

Kore wo kopii shite mo ii desu ka? これをコピーしてもいいですか？　 Can I copy this please?

Shio wo watashite kuremasen ka? 塩を渡してくれませんか？　 しおをわたしてくれませんか？ Could you pass me the salt please?

The word ‘please’ is inclusive in the question when you phrase it this way. You don’t need to say kudasai or onegaishimasu.  

Depending on how polite you would like to make the phrase, you can choose itadakemasen ka? to be very polite. 

For example, even though you could say: 

Mou ichido itte kudasai. もう一致度言ってください もういっちどいってください Please repeat that one more time.

It would be more polite to say: 

Mou ichido itte itadakemasen ka? もう一致度言っていただけませんか もういっちどいっていただけませんか Could you please repeat that one more time?

More essential Japanese phrases:

• How to Say ‘Thank You’ in Japanese
• How to Say Sorry in Japanese: Apologize Like You Mean it
• How to Say Hello in Japanese: 19 Different Ways 
• How to Say Goodbye in Japanese: 16 Useful Ways
• How to Say Yes in Japanese: ‘Hai’ and Beyond!
• How to Say No in Japanese: 11 Ways

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How to say homework in Japanese

• homework ; assignment
• pending issue; unresolved problem; open question

Example Sentences

© Based on JMdict , KANJIDIC2 , and JMnedict , property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group , used in conformance with the Group's licence . Example sentences from the Tatoeba project (CC BY 2.0). Kanji stroke order data from the KanjiVG project by Ulrich Apel (CC BY-SA 3.0). See comprehensive list of data sources for more info.

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(Translation of homework from the Cambridge English–Japanese Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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the fact that people or animals do what they are told to do

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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100+ Useful Japanese Classroom Phrases & Vocabulary

If you are taking a Japanese group lesson online, or planning to study as a foreign student in Japan or to teach your language as a teacher in Japan, it’s good to know Japanese classroom phrases well for effective learning and better communication in the class.

In this guide, we introduce the most useful Japanese classroom phrases and vocabulary from various aspects, including school vocabulary, classroom greetings and calls, explaining absence and tardiness, teacher’s phrases, student phrases, and school subjects. You will learn not only common Japanese classroom phrases and vocabulary but also the unique features of Japanese schools, such as the school system, school routines, and school supplies. Let’s get ready for your class with JapanesePod101.com !

答えがわかったら手を挙げて Kotae ga wakattara te o agete (“Raise your hand if you know the answer”)

• School Vocabulary
• Classroom Greetings and Calls
• Explaining Absence and Tardiness/Leaving Early
• Teacher’s Phrases
• Student’s Phrases
• Talking About Subjects

1. School Vocabulary

Before talking about Japanese classroom phrases, here are the lists of school vocabulary for the Japanese school system, school facilities, school personnel, school routines and school supplies.

1. Japanese School System

April is one of the most important months of the year in Japan as the school year or the fiscal year begins.  Classes are held from Monday to Friday in compulsory education and at public schools, and some private schools are also open on Saturdays. The Japanese school year usually consists of three terms (学期 gakki ), and there are short spring and winter breaks or a long summer break between each school term.

Below is the basic Japanese school system ;

Elementary school:  6 years (age 7 to 12)    [Compulsory Education] Junior high school : 3 years (age 13 to 15) [Compulsory Education] Senior high school : 3 years (age 16 to 18)

[Higher Education] University: 4 years (6 years for Medicine, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, and Dentistry School) Junior college: 2 years (or 3, depending on the school) Vocational school: 2 years (or 3, depending on the school)

Japanese Words for School Vocabulary 

教室 kyōshitsu (“classroom”)

2. School Facilities

図書室 toshoshitsu (“library”)

3. School Personnel

*Generally, 先生 ( sensei ) is who teaches something, and 先生 ( sensei ) is commonly used for school teachers. On the other hand, a synonym word 教師 ( kyōshi ) is used as an occupation, for example, 私は教師です Watashi wa kyōshi desu. “I’m a teacher.” 

4. School Routines

*Food Service  給食 kyūshoku is usually provided at elementary school and middle high school for very low monthly fees in Japan. They usually eat kyūshoku in the classroom. In high school, students either bring their own lunch boxes お弁当 o-bentō or use the school cafeteria.

**There is time allocated for cleaning, especially from elementary to high school, and students clean their school by themselves in Japan. Not only in their home classroom but also in corridors, bathrooms, gym, and other places in the school. In this way, Japanese schools teach students to clean, keep tidy, be responsible, use things with care, etc.

5. School Supplies

 * シャーペン shāpen (“mechanical pencil”) is 和製英語 Wasei-eigo (“Japanese-made English”)  word that is the shorter version of シャープペンシル “ sha rp pen cil.”

** Wearing 上履き uwabaki (“school indoor shoes” ) at school is something particular about Japan. This comes from the Japanese culture and etiquette that people are expected to remove their shoes when entering homes and other particular rooms or buildings.

*** ランドセル randoseru (“school backpack for elementary school kids” ) is a unique Japanese school backpack usually made of leather with a firm structure. Traditionally, parents or grandparents give children as a gift upon entering elementary school. They use the same randoseru for 6 years until they graduate from elementary school. 

To enhance your Japanese vocabulary and learn more about Japanese basic nouns, please check out Guide to the Top 100+ Japanese Nouns .

ランドセルは日本の小学校のかばんです。 Randoseru wa Nihon no shōgakkō no kaban desu. (“Randoseru is a bag for elementary school in Japan” )

6. Example Sentences

タメ口 Tameguchi (“peer language”) or casual speech form can be used when talking among students. However, 敬語 keigo (“honorific speech”) or polite language should be used for teachers.

Here are some basic phrases in Japanese classrooms using school vocabulary:

[Japanese]     鉛筆を1本借りてもいい？　 Enpitsu o ippon karite mo ii?  (casual)      　　           [English]         “May I borrow a (one) pencil? ”

*Japanese language learning: To learn more about Japanese numbers, see Japanese Numbers: Let’s Master the Basic Japanese Numbers !

[Japanese]    生物の教科書を失くしちゃった。    (casual)                         Seibutsu no kyōkasho o nakushichatta.  [English]         “I lost my biology textbook.”

[Japanese]    宿題を忘れました。 (polite)                         Shukudai o wasuremashita. [English]         “I forgot my homework.”

[Japanese]    消しゴム持ってる?     Keshigomu motte ru?    (casual)    　 [English]         “Do you have an eraser?”

[Japanese]    これ使っていいよ。   Kore tsukatte ii yo.     (casual)    [English]         “Here, you can use this.”

[Japanese]    ありがとう、後で返すね。   Arigatō, ato de kaesu ne.     (casual)    [English]         “Thanks, I will return it to you later.”

[Japanese]    明日の朝は体育館で全校朝礼があります。     (polite)                         Ashita no asa wa taiikukan de zenkō chōrei ga arimasu. [English]         “We will have a whole school assembly at the gymnasium tomorrow morning. ”

[Japanese]    明日の化学の試験は何時だっけ？       (casual)                         Ashita no kagaku no shiken wa nan-ji dakke? [English]         “What time is the chemistry test tomorrow?”

*Please visit How to Tell Time in Japanese article and Japanese Calendar Dates: Reading Dates in Japanese & More on JapanesePod101 to learn how to tell time and date in Japanese.

消しゴム持ってる?   Keshigomu motte ru?    (“Do you have an eraser?”)

2. Classroom Greetings and Calls 

Some of the most essential Japanese classroom phrases are greetings and calls used at school. Here is the list of frequently used Japanese words and greetings in classrooms.

[Japanese]     先生 / 教授、おはようございます。　 Sensei / kyōju, ohayō gozaimasu.  (polite) [English]         “Good morning teacher / professor.”

*Japanese language learning: To learn more Japanese greetings, check out How to Say Hello in Japanese: Practical Japanese Greetings .

[Japanese]    おはよう。 Ohayō.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “Good morning.”

[Japanese]    バイバイ。 Bai bai.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “Bye bye.”

[Japanese]    また明日。 Mata ashita.   (casual)    　　   [English]         “See you tomorrow.”

[Japanese]    先生、さようなら。 Sensei, sayōnara.   (polite)    　　   [English]         “Good bye, teacher.”

[Japanese]    起立！   　 気をつけ！　   礼!　      着席!            (imperative)                         Kiritsu ! Ki o tsuke ! Rei ! Chakuseki ! [English]         “Stand up! Attention (make a good posture)! Bow!  Seated down! ”

*This is the traditional call and ritual of bowing in Japan at the start and end of school class to greet the teacher. Usually, one of the students in a class is allocated to the call roll on a weekly or monthly basis.

When there is a whole school or classroom assembly, usually held in the gymnasium or schoolyard, the following phrases are used.

[Japanese]    集合！     Shūgō!     (imperative)    　 [English]         “Assemble / gather!”

[Japanese]    一列に並べ。   Ichi-retsu ni narabe.     (imperative)    [English]         “Line up in a row.”

[Japanese]    前へならえ。   Mae e narae.     (imperative)    [English]         “Stand at arm’s length. (Literally: follow (do) as front)”

[Japanese]    解散！ Kaisan !       (imperative) 　　    [English]         “Dismissed!”

3. Explaining Absence and Tardiness/Leaving Early 

1. taking attendance.

At Japanese Schools, usually from elementary school to high school, students have a “home class” and a particular teacher (担任 tannin ) who’s in charge of its home class. Students usually stay in the home classroom and 担任 ( tannin ) teaches all the basic subjects in elementary school, and teachers of each subject come to the classroom to give classes in junior highschool and senior highschool.

The teacher in charge of a home-class calls the roll in the morning meeting. 

Japanese Vocabulary for Taking Attendance

Following are some teacher’s basic phrases in Japanese for taking attendance:

[Japanese]    静かに。出欠を取ります。 Shizuka ni. Shukketsu o torimasu.   　　   [English]         “Quiet please, I will take attendance now.”

[Japanese]    名前を呼ばれたら返事をすること。   Namae o yobaretara henji o suru koto. 　　   [English]         “Respond when your name is called.”

[Japanese]    全員いますか。  Zen’in imasu ka. 　　   [English]         “Is everyone here?”

[Japanese]    誰か欠席の人いますか。 Dare ka kesseki no hito imasu ka.       　　   [English]         “Anybody absent?”

[Japanese]   [name]さんが今日欠席した理由を知っている人はいますか。                       [name] -san ga kyō kesseki shita riyū o shitte iru hito wa imasu ka. [English]      “Does anyone know why [name] is absent today?”

 はい、います。 Hai, imasu. (“Yes, I’m present”)

Following are some student’s basic phrases in Japanese for taking attendance:

[Japanese]    はい、います。 Hai, imasu.   　　   [English]       “Yes, I’m present.”   (response when your name is called) 

[Japanese]    [name] さんがいません。[name]- san ga imasen.    　　   [English]       “[name] is not here.”

[Japanese]    すみません、寝坊したので遅刻しました。                         Sumimasen, nebō shita node chikoku shimashita. [English]         “I’m sorry, I was late because I overslept.”

[Japanese]    電車が人身事故で止まったので遅刻しました。                         Densha ga jinshin jiko de tomatta node chikoku shimashita. [English]         “I was late because the train stopped due to an injury accident.”

[Japanese]    [name]さんは昨日から体調が悪くて、今日は欠席です。                           [name]-san wa kinō kara taichō ga warukute, kyō wa kesseki desu. [English]         “[name] has been sick since yesterday and is absent today.”

[Japanese]    足を骨折したので、体育の授業は見学します。                           Ashi o kossetsu shita node, taiiku no jugyō wa kengaku shimasu. [English]         “I will just observe the PE class because I broke my leg.”

[Japanese]    すみません、とても気分が悪いので早退します。                           Sumimasen, totemo kibun ga warui node sōtai shimasu. [English]         “Excuse me, I’m leaving early because I feel very sick.”

4. Teacher’s Phrases  

In the Japanese culture, names are called together with 敬称 keish ō (“Japanese honorific title”) , “さん san ” is most commonly used.

When a teacher talks to a student : [student family name] + さん san  In some cases, [family name of a male student] + 君 くん kun

The following are frequently used Japanese classroom phrases by teachers in a class.

1. Instructions

[Japanese]    みんな、席に着いて。 Minna, seki ni tsuite.   　　   [English]       “Everyone, be seated.”

[Japanese]    [name] 君、早く座りなさい。　[name]- kun, hayaku suwarinasai.    　　   [English]         “[name], sit down now.”

[Japanese]    では、始めます。 Dewa, hajimemasu.                   　   [English]         “Well, let’s begin.”

[Japanese]    今日はXXXについて勉強します。     Ky ō wa XXX ni tsuite benkyō shimasu. [English]         “We are going to learn XXX today.”

[Japanese]    教科書のXXページを開いてください。   Ky ōkasho no XX-pēji o hiraite kudasai.  [English]         “Please open to page XX of your textbook.”

[Japanese]    これはとても重要です。   Kore wa totemo jūyō desu.   　　   [English]         “This is very important.”

[Japanese]    これはテストに出るので、しっかり理解してください。                           Kore wa tesuto ni deru node, shikkari rikai shite kudasai. [English]         “Please understand this well because this will be on the test.”

[Japanese]   しっかり聞いてください。 Shikkari kiite kudasai. 　   [English]       “Listen carefully.”

[Japanese]   　黒板の図を見てください。　 Kokuban no zu o mite kudasai.   　　   [English]         “Look at the diagram on the blackboard.”

[Japanese]    この質問の答えがわかる人は手をあげてください。                           Kono shitsumon no kotae ga wakaru hito wa te o agete kudasai. [English]         “Raise your hand if you know the answer to this question.”

[Japanese]    最初に聞いてから、私の後で繰り返してください。                              Saisho ni kiite kara, watashi no ato de kurikaeshite kudasai. [English]         “Listen first and repeat after me.”

[Japanese]    答えをノートに書いて。   Kotae o n ōto ni kaite.  [English]         “Write the answers in your notebook.”

[Japanese]    みんなで一緒に、２段落目から読みましょう。                             Minna de issho ni, ni-danraku-me kara yomimashō. [English]         “Let’s read from the second paragraph together.”

[Japanese]    [name]さん、XXページを読んでください。                         [name]-san, XX-pēji o yonde kudasai. [English]         “[student name], read the page XX please.”

[Japanese]    紙を一枚ずつ取って、後ろの人に渡してください。                         Kami o ichi-mai zutsu totte, ushiro no hito ni watashite kudasai. [English]         “Take one sheet of paper and pass (the rest) to the person behind you.”

これはとても重要です。 Kore wa totemo jūyō desu.   ( “This is very important.”)

2. Homework

[Japanese]    今日の宿題はXXXです。     Ky ō no shukudai wa XXX desu. [English]         “Homework for today is XXX.”

[Japanese]    宿題は教科書XXページの１番から５番です。                         Shukudai wa kyōkasho XX-pēji no ichi-ban kara go-ban desu. [English]         “The homework is from the number 1 to 5 on page XX of the textbook.”

[Japanese]    今日学んだことを家で復習してください。                            Kyō mananda koto o ie de fukushū shite kudasai. [English]         “Review at home what you’ve learned today.”

[Japanese]    前回出された宿題は、先生の机の上に提出してください。                         Zenkai dasareta shukudai wa, sensei no tsukue no ue ni teishutsu shite kudasai. [English]         “Please submit the homework given last time on the teacher’s desk.”

[Japanese]    宿題の提出は成績に反映されます。                         Shukudai no teishutsu wa seiseki ni han’ei saremasu. [English]         “Your homework submission will be reflected in your grades.”

3. Questions

[Japanese]    質問はありますか。     Shitsumon wa arimasu ka. [English]         “Any questions?”

[Japanese]    皆さん分かりましたか。  Mina-san wakarimashita ka. [English]         “Did everyone understand this?”

[Japanese]    誰かこの問題を解答できますか。   Dare ka kono mondai o kait ō dekimasu ka.   　　   [English]         “Can anyone solve this problem?”

[Japanese]    正しい答えは何ですか。     Tadashii kotae wa nan desu ka. [English]         “What is the correct answer?”

[Japanese]    ここまでで何か分からないことはありますか。                         Koko made de nani ka wakaranai koto wa arimasu ka. [English]         “Is there anything you don’t understand so far?”

  正しい答えは何ですか。   Tadashii kotae wa nan desu ka.   ( “What is the correct answer?”)

4. Keeping the Order

[Japanese]    静かにしなさい。 Shizuka ni shinasai. [English]         “Be quiet.”

[Japanese]    おしゃべりはやめなさい。  Oshaberi wa yamenasai. [English]         “Stop talking!”

[Japanese]    自分の席に戻りなさい。     Jibun no seki ni modorinasai. [English]         “Go back to your seat!”

[Japanese]    授業に集中しなさい。 Jugy ō ni shūchū shinasai. [English]         “Focus on the class!”

[Japanese]    質問がある時は手をあげてください。   Shitsumon ga aru toki wa te o agete kudasai. [English]         “Raise your hand if you have a question.”

Japanese language learning : To learn more Japanese angry phrases, please also check out Getting Angry in Japanese: 20+ Useful Japanese Angry Phrases . 

5. Student’s Phrases 

At schools in Japan, faculty is usually called by his/her title by students. When students talk to a teacher:  先生 sensei (“Mr./ Mrs.“, Literally: teacher) When students talk to a professor:  教授 ky ō ju (Literally: professor)

If you want to be more specific, add a name in front of a title, such as 高橋先生 Takahashi-sensei (Mr./ Mrs. Takahashi , Literally: Takahashi teacher).

Here is the list of most useful Japanese classroom phrases used by students, including when asking questions to a teacher and when talking with other students.

1. Asking Questions

[Japanese]    すみません、何ページですか。     Sumimasen, nan-p ē ji desu ka. [English]         “Excuse me, what page are we on?”

[Japanese]    わかりません。 Wakarimasen. [English]         “I don’t understand.”

[Japanese]    過去分詞の使い方がわかりません。 Kakobunshi no tsukaikata ga wakarimasen. [English]         “I don’t understand how to use a past participle.”

[Japanese]    その部分をもう一度言ってください。 Sono bubun o m ō ichi-do itte kudasai. [English]         “Please repeat that part again.”

[Japanese]    もう一度ゆっくり言ってもらえますか。 M ō ichi-do yukkuri itte moraemasu ka. [English]         “Can you say that again slowly?”

[Japanese]    もっとわかりやすく説明してください。 Motto wakariyasuku setsumei shite kudasai. [English]         “Please explain it in a more understandable way.”

[Japanese]    質問があります。 Shitsumon ga arimasu. [English]         “I have a question.”

[Japanese]    質問してもいいですか。  Shitsumon shite mo ii desu ka. [English]         “Can I ask you a question?”

[Japanese]    先生は今何て言いましたか。 Sensei wa ima nante iimashita ka. [English]         “What did the teacher just say?”

[Japanese]    これは何て発音しますか。 Kore wa nante hatsuon shimasu ka. [English]         “How do you pronounce this?”

[Japanese]    XXXはどういう意味ですか。　 XXX wa d ō iu imi desu ka. [English]         “What does XXX mean?”

[Japanese]    どうしてこの場合に未来完了形を使うのですか。                         Dōshite kono bāi ni mirai kanryōkei o tsukau no desu ka.　 [English]         “Why do you use the future perfect tense in this case?”

[Japanese]    これは合ってますか。 Kore wa atte masu ka. [English]         “Is this correct ?”

[Japanese]    これが正解ですか。 Kore ga seikai desu ka. [English]         “Is this the correct answer?”

[Japanese]    やっと理解しました。 Yatto rikai shimashita. [English]         “I finally understood.”

[Japanese]    トイレに行ってもいいですか。 Toire ni itte mo ii desu ka. [English]         “May I go to the bathroom?”

[Japanese]    気分が悪いので、保健室に行ってもいいですか。                         Kibun ga warui node, hokenshitsu ni itte mo ii desu ka. [English]         “May I go to the infirmary because I feel sick?”

 質問があります。 Shitsumon ga arimasu. (“I have a question.”)

2. Talking Among Students

The speech tone is very casual for conversations among students. The following are handy Japanese classroom phrases when you want to chat with your friends in a class.

[Japanese]    今どこ？ Ima doko? [English]         “Where are we at?”

[Japanese]    今何ページ？ 　Ima nan-pēji? [English]         “Which page are we on?”

[Japanese]    宿題やった？ Shukudai yatta?   [English]         “Did you do your homework?”

[Japanese]    宿題やったのに、家に忘れてきちゃった。 Shukudai yatta noni, ie ni wasurete kichatta. [English]         “Though I did my homework, I forgot it at home.”

[Japanese]    後でノート見せてもらってもいい？  Ato de n ōto misete moratte mo ii? [English]         “Can I see your notebook later?”

[Japanese]    今日の授業は全然わからなかった。 Ky ō no jugy ō wa zenzen wakaranakatta. [English]         “I didn’t understand today’s class at all.”

[Japanese]    この問題が分からないんだけど、教えて。 Kono mondai ga wakaranai n da kedo, oshiete. [English]         “I don’t understand this problem, can you teach me?”

[Japanese]    宿題は何だっけ？ Shukudai wa nan dakke? [English]         “What is the homework?”

[Japanese]   教科書の何ページが試験範囲？ Kyōkasho no nan-pēji ga shiken han’i? [English]         “Which pages of the textbook will be covered in the exam?”

[Japanese]    英語のテストはいつだっけ？  Eigo no tesuto wa itsu dakke? [English]         “When is the English exam?”

[Japanese]   試験の勉強は全然できてない。  Shiken no benkyō wa zenzen dekite nai.               [English]         “I couldn’t study enough for exams at all.”

[Japanese]    テスト/試験 どうだった？ Tesuto / shiken dō datta? [English]         “How was your test / exams?”

[Japanese]   どうしよう、英語のテストが赤点*だった。 Dō shiyō, Eigo no tesuto ga akaten* datta.  [English]         “What should I do, I got a red mark on the English test.”

*赤点 akaten is a slang word for bad grades, it is literally translated as “red mark”, meaning “failing grades”.

[Japanese]   試験の結果は思ったより良かったよ。 Shiken no kekka wa omotta yori yokatta yo.             [English]         “The result of the exam was better than I thought.”

[Japanese]    試験期間が終わったら、カラオケに行こう！ Shiken kikan ga owattara, karaoke ni ikō! [English]         “When the exam period is over, let’s go to Karaoke!”

テストどうだった？ Tesuto dō datta? (“How was your test?”)

6. Talking About Subjects  

1. subject vocabulary [from elementary to high school].

School subjects are one of the most essential parts when learning classroom phrases and vocabulary. 

The following is the list of subjects (科目 kamoku ) that are taught from elementary school to high school in Japan. 

学科 gakka / 科目 kamoku (“School subjects”)

2. Subject Vocabulary [University]

Below are the common department / course of study (学科 gakka ) taught in higher education, such as junior college or university.

3. Example Sentences

Here are some basic phrases in Japanese using subject vocabulary:

[Japanese]    私の一番好きな科目は [subject] です。                          Watashi no ichi-ban suki na kamoku wa [subject] desu. [English]         “My favorite subject is [subject].”

[Japanese]    私は [subject] が得意です。 Watashi wa [subject] ga tokui desu. [English]         “I’m good at [subject].”

[Japanese]    私は [subject] が苦手です。 Watashi wa [subject] ga nigate desu. [English]         “I’m not good at [subject].”

[Japanese]   [subject] は難しいので嫌いです。  [subject] wa muzukashii node kirai desu. [English]         “I don’t like [subject] because it’s difficult.”

[Japanese]    何の科目が一番好きですか。 Nan no kamoku ga ichi-ban suki desu ka. [English]         “What is your favorite subject?”

[Japanese]   何の科目が得意ですか。  Nan no kamoku ga tokui desu ka.              [English]         “Which subjects are you good at?”

[Japanese]    大学では [subject] を学びたいです。 Daigaku de wa [subject] o manabitai desu. [English]         “I’d like to learn [subject] at university.”

[Japanese]   専攻学科は何ですか。 Senkō gakka wa nan desu ka.         [English]         “What is your major?”

[Japanese]   私の専攻学科は [subject] です。 Watashi no senkō gakka wa [subject] desu.           [English]         “My major is [subject].”

[Japanese]    第二外国語としてドイツ語のクラスをとっています。                         Dai-ni gaikokugo toshite Doitsu-go no kurasu o totte imasu. [English]         “I’m taking German class as a second foreign language.”

Japanese language learning : If you want to learn more about how to introduce yourself in Japanese, please see How to Say “My Name is,” in Japanese + More !

7. Conclusion

In this article, we introduced 100+ most useful Japanese Classroom Phrases and Vocabulary, including:

• School vocabulary and the Japanese school system 
• Useful Classroom Greetings and Calls
• Talking about Subjects

Whether you are taking a Japanese class or you want to teach at a Japanese local school and/or study with native students, our guide of Japanese Classroom Phrases and Vocabulary will make your school life easier and more adaptable.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find a lot more helpful content on JapanesePod101.com . This is the best place to learn Japanese online, providing a variety of free lessons designed to help you improve your Japanese-language skills. 

If you are interested in more Japanese phrases sorted by situations, the following articles are just right for you: 

• Japanese Travel Phrases for an Enjoyable Trip to Japan

50+ Restaurants Phrases for Eating Out in Japan

• Essential Business Japanese: Learn the Most Useful Phrases

And there’s so much more! Be a faster learner and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com !

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any specific topics or situations you’d like to learn Japanese phrases for. We’d be glad to help, and we look forward to hearing from you! 

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Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese

Making Requests

Politely (and not so politely) making requests.

Similar to asking for favors, which we learned in the last lesson, there are also various ways to make requests in Japanese. This is effectively the Japanese way of saying, “please do X”. We’ll first learn the most common way to make requests using a special conjugation of the verb 「 くださる 」 and the firmer 「 なさる 」. Finally, we’ll learn the rarely used excessively strong command form for the sake of completeness. You can safely skip the last part unless you’re an avid reader of manga.

「～ ください 」－ a special conjugation of 「 くださる 」

• それ – that
• くれる (ru-verb) – to give
• 漢字 【かん・じ】 – Kanji
• 書く 【か・く】 (u-verb) – to write
• ここ – here
• 来る 【く・る】 (exception) – to come
• 日本語 【に・ほん・ご】 – Japanese (language)
• 話す 【はな・す】 (u-verb) – to speak
• 消しゴム 【け・し・ごむ】 – eraser
• 貸す 【か・す】 (u-verb) – lend
• 遠い 【とお・い】 (i-adj) – far
• 所 【ところ】 – place
• 行く 【い・く】 (u-verb) – to go
• お父さん【お・とう・さん】 – father (polite)
• 時計 【と・けい】 – watch; clock
• 壊れる 【こわ・れる】 (ru-verb) – to break
• 言う 【い・う】 (u-verb) – to say

「 ください 」 is a special conjugation of 「 くださる 」, which is the honorific form of 「 くれる 」. We will learn more about honorific and humble forms in the beginning of the next major section. We are going over 「 ください 」 here because it has a slight difference in meaning from the normal 「 くれる 」 and the honorific 「 くださる 」. 「 ください 」 is different from 「 くれる 」 in the following fashion:

• それ を ください 。 Please give me that.
• それ を くれる ？ Can you give me that?

As you can see 「 ください 」 is a direct request for something while 「 くれる 」 is used as a question asking for someone to give something. However, it is similar to 「 くれる 」 in that you can make a request for an action by simply attaching it to the te-form of the verb.

• 漢字 で 書いて ください 。 Please write it in kanji.
• ゆっくり 話して ください 。 Please speak slowly.

The rules for negative requests are same as the rules for 「 くれる 」 as well.

• 落書き を 書かない で ください 。 Please don’t write graffiti.
• ここ に こないで ください 。 Please don’t come here.

In casual speech, it is often common to simply drop the 「 ください 」 part.

• 日本語 で 話して 。 Please speak in Japanese.
• 消しゴム を 貸して 。 Please lend me the eraser.
• 遠い 所 に 行かない で 。 Please don’t go to a far place.

For those who want to sound particularly commanding and manly, it is also possible to use 「 くれる 」 with the 「る」 removed.

• 日本語 で 話して くれ 。 Speak in Japanese.
• 消しゴム を 貸して くれ 。 Lend me the eraser.
• 遠い 所 に 行かない で くれ 。 Don’t go to a far place.

Because 「 ください 」 like the masu-form must always come at the end sentence or a relative clause, you cannot use it to directly modify a noun. For example, the following is not possible with 「 ください 」.

• お父さん が くれた 時計 が 壊れた 。 The clock that father gave broke.

Of course, since direct quotes is merely repeating something someone said in verbatim, you can put practically anything in a direct quote.

• 「 それ を ください 」 と お父さん が 言った 。 Father said, “Please give me that.”

Using 「～ ちょうだい 」 as a casual request

• 頂戴 【ちょうだい】 – receiving (humble)
• 致す 【いたす】 (u-verb) – to do (humble)
• スプーン – spoon
• 名前 【な・まえ】 – name

A casual alternative of 「 ください 」 is 「 ちょうだい 」. While it can be used by anyone, it has a slightly feminine and childish nuance and is always written in Hiragana. Written in Kanji, it is usually used in a very formal expression such as 「 頂戴 致します 」. Grammatically, it’s used exactly the same way as 「 ください 」.

• スプーン を ちょうだい 。 Please give me the spoon.
• ここ に 名前 を 書いて ちょうだい 。 Please write your name here.

Using 「～ なさい 」 to make firm but polite requests

• 食べる 【たべ・る】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 飲む 【の・む】 (u-verb) – to drink
• する (exception) – to do
• いい (i-adj) – good
• 聞く 【き・く】 (u-verb) – to ask; to listen
• 座る 【すわ・る】 (ru-verb) – to sit
• まだ – yet
• いっぱい – full
• ある (u-verb) – to exist (inanimate)
• たくさん – a lot (amount)
• 思う 【おも・う】 (u-verb) – to think
• そう – (things are) that way

「 なさい 」 is a special honorific conjugation of 「 する 」. It is a soft yet firm way of issuing a command. It is used, for example, when a mother is scolding her child or when a teacher wants a delinquent student to pay attention. Unlike 「 ください 」, 「 なさい 」 only applies to positive verbs and uses the stem of the verb instead of the te-form. It also cannot be used by itself but must be attached to another verb.

• 食べ る → 食べ なさい
• 飲 む → 飲 み → 飲み なさい
• する → し → し なさい
• よく 聞き なさい ！ Listen well!
• ここ に 座り なさい 。 Sit here.

You can also drop 「さい」 portion of the 「 なさい 」 to make a casual version of this grammar.

• まだ いっぱい ある から、 たくさん 食べな 。 There’s still a lot, so eat a lot.
• それ で いい と 思う なら、 そう し な よ。 If you think that’s fine, then go ahead and do it.

The Command Form

• 死ぬ 【し・ぬ】 (u-verb) – to die
• 食べる 【た・べる】 (ru-verb) – to eat
• 着る 【き・る】 (ru-verb) – to wear
• 信じる 【しん・じる】 (ru-verb) – to believe
• 寝る 【ね・る】 (ru-verb) – to sleep
• 起きる 【お・きる】 (ru-verb) – to wake; to occur
• 出る 【で・る】 (ru-verb) – to come out
• 掛ける 【か・ける】 (ru-verb) – to hang
• 捨てる 【す・てる】 (ru-verb) – to throw away
• 遊ぶ 【あそ・ぶ】 (u-verb) – to play
• 待つ 【ま・つ】 (u-verb) – to wait
• 直る 【なお・る】 (u-verb) – to be fixed
• 買う 【か・う】 (u-verb) – to buy
• 好き 【す・き】 (na-adj) – likable
• あっち – that way (over there) （abbr of あちら）
• 早い 【はや・い】 (i-adj) – fast; early
• 酒 【さけ】 – alcohol
• 持つ 【も・つ】 (u-verb) – to hold

We will go over the command form in the interest of covering all the possible verb conjugations. In reality, the command form is rarely used as Japanese people tend to be too polite to use imperatives. Also, this coarse type of speech is rarely, if indeed at all, used by females who tend to use 「 なさい 」 or an exasperated 「 くれる 」 when angry or irritated. This form is only really useful for reading or watching fictional works. You may often see or hear 「 死ね ！」 (“Die!”) in fiction which, of course, you’ll never hear in real life. (I hope!)

Be sure to note that, in addition to the familiar 「 する 」, 「 くる 」 exception verbs, 「 くれる 」 is also an exception for the command form.

• For ru-verbs: Replace the 「る」 with 「ろ」
• For u-verbs: Change the last character from an / u / vowel to an / e / vowel
• 好き に しろ 。 Do as you please.
• あっち 行け ！ Go away!
• 早く 酒 を 持って きて くれ 。 Hurry up and bring me some alcohol.

Negative Command

• 変 【へん】 (na-adj) – strange
• こと – event, matter

The negative command form is very simple: simply attach 「な」 to either ru-verbs or u-verbs. Don’t confuse this with the 「な」 sentence-ending particle we will be learning at the end of this section. The intonation is totally different.

• それ を 食べる な ！ Don’t eat that!
• 変 な こと を 言う な ！ Don’t say such weird things!

This is not to be confused with the shortened version of 「～なさい」 we just learned in the last section. The most obvious difference (besides the clear difference in tone) is that in 「～なさい」, the verb is first converted to the stem while the negative command has no conjugation. For example, for 「 する 」, 「 しな 」 would be the short version of 「 しなさい 」 while 「 する な」 would be a negative command.

How to Say Please in Japanese – 5 Ways!

The other day I went over many ways to say thank you, so it only makes sense to cover please as well. Today’s lesson is going into depth on how to say please in Japanese.

If you’re planning on visiting Japan this year, or next, then this should in the top ten words you MUST know!

You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish by using body language (pointing, gestures, etc.) along with please and thank you in Japanese .

Let’s see the many different ways to say it, and the situations that are appropriate for each one.

1. 下さい (kudasai)

The first way to say please in Japanese that I wanted to cover today is 下さい (kudasai) which is usually just written in hiragana as ください instead of with its 下 kanji. However, you’ll see it both ways, so now you know what it looks like.

This word can easily be understood to mean please give me or please do for me and is something that you will probably hear and use every single day in Japanese.

I wanted to provide some example sentences that help to show both of these potential meanings so that they are easier to understand, so let’s get into some of them right now.

Please give me that.

sore o kudasai.

Please give me a copy of the document.

書類のコピーをください。

shorui no kopī o kudasai.

I’ll have green tea, please.

ocha o kudasai.

In this first usage of ください, all you really have to do is first state the noun that you want, followed by the (w)o-particle and then ください.

With this pattern of “NOUNをください” you can ask for virtually anything you can think of.

If you then combine it with words like これ (kore) for “this” and それ (sore) for “that” then you don’t even have to know the names of the things you want. You can simply point to or show them to the person listening.

Let’s move on to the second way we can use kudasai .

Please sit down.

suwatte kudasai.

Please lend (it) to me.

kashite kudasai.

Please listen to what I’m saying!

話を聞いてくださいよ！

hanashi o kiite kudasai yo!

Any time you want to ask a person to perform some sort of action, you can use the verb in combination with ください in order to politely say “please do this thing.”

Now here’s the trick, you have to put the verb (the action you want the other person to do) into its te-form before combining it with ください.

If you’re not sure how to correctly conjugate a particular verb, then I recommend you enter it into Jisho.org and then press the Show inflections button on the left-hand side. This ought to bring up a list that will show many different forms of the verb.

Here is an example for the verb “to drink” which is 飲む (nomu):

Using this online dictionary, it’s pretty easy to find the right form which you can then use for the phrase.

2. 頂戴 (chōdai)

In Japanese, there are a lot of different words that all get translated into the same English word when you plop them into a dictionary or translator.

It used to frustrate me to no end, because I could never figure out why Japanese had three words, when we only had the one in English. Furthermore, I never knew when I should use one form or the other in any given situation.

This is a common problem that a lot of beginners run into, and the confusion can actually be cleared up pretty quickly with a good explanation.

In fact, that’s what today’s lesson is all about!

This next phrase we are going to learn is essentially the same as ください, expect that it is the informal version of it.

The word I’m talking about is 頂戴 (chōdai) which can be spelled a couple ways such as the one that you just saw, or in all hiragana as ちょうだい, or even an alternate kanji spelling as in 頂だい.

Generally speaking through, it is almost always written completely in hiragana.

So, if you read all about ください in Section-1 of this article, then you should already know how to use and understand ちょうだい.

Please give me a bite (of that)!

hito kuchi chōdai!

The difference between these two forms of the words is that ください is the standard, polite way, while ちょうだい is the informal way which you would be more likely to use with close friends and family.

One final difference is that ちょうだい is used by Japanese women much more often than Japanese men, so if you are a guy then it might be safer to stick with ください to avoid sounding too feminine when you speak Japanese.

3. お願いします (onegai shimasu)

Now we get to the other major way to say please in Japanese (the first one was ください).

The word for this part is お願いします (o negai shimasu) and it if you were to translate it into English literally, it would sound something like “I request you to do me an honorable favor.”

However, お願いします is pretty much a set phrase at this point because it gets used frequently in Japanese for all sorts of different situations.

The most common situation is where you are entrusting a matter to someone else, or you are counting on them to do something (a good job, be there on time, etc.) and you end the encounter with お願いします.

One more please, please (while they take your photo).

もう一枚お願いします。

mō ichi mai onegai shimasu

Some wine, please.

ワインをお願いします。

wain o o-negai shimasu

Now this last example could have switched out ください for お願いします and it essentially would have meant the same thing, but there are subtle differences between these two words.

The word ください is considered sonkeigo which means “honorific language” and its purpose is to elevate the position of the listener . That is, the person whom you are speaking with.

The word お願いします is considered kenjougo which means “humble language” and its purpose is to lower the position of the speaker . In other words, you are bringing your own position down when using it (and thus indirectly elevating the other person).

So here’s the big takeaway when it comes to these two words:

There are many times when you can use them interchangeable. The most common example is any time when you are asking for a thing, like a drink.

Besides that commonality between the two, there are notable differences that you should be aware of. For example, you should only use the te-form of verbs with ください (or ちょうだい).

On the flip side of things, there are many phrases where お願いします is an indispensable part and nothing else will do. A good example is when you meet someone for the first time.

It’s nice to meet you (literally: please treat me favorably)

yoroshiku o negai shimasu

Another common situation is where someone says that they are going to do something, and you just want to say something along the lines of “yeah, please do that. It would be really great of you.”

In these cases, you can simple say お願いします with enthusiasm as your reply.

Really? Well then, yes please!

本当ですか？じゃあ、お願いします！

hontō desu ka? jā, o negai shimasu!

Keep this understanding of the word in your mind, and then pay attention to how it is used in native materials such as books or shows to really get a feel for when you should be using it too.

4. どうぞ (dōzo)

You know how in movies when someone enters the house of a rich person and the butler shows them around and then says something like “Please make yourself comfortable while the master returns.”

Well that type of “please” where you are essentially giving people permission to do something uses a specific word in Japanese.

The word is どうぞ (dōzo) and it is also a pretty handy one to know.

It can have some other usages, like when a person brings you something that is yours (like a meal, or your belongings) to you, they will typically use it.

Here’s your coat.

あなたのコートをどうぞ。

anata no kōto o dōzo.

But for the context of this article, we can just focus on those situations where it equals the English please .

This way please (when showing the way to someone).

kochira e dōzo.

Please, come in.

どうぞ、お入り下さい。

dōzo, o hairi kudasai.

Hey, check it out! We used two words for please in that last one!

You can never be too polite in Japanese (^_^)b

One interesting phrase that どうぞ is a regular part of is when giving a present to someone. The standard phrase to use literally says “This is a boring thing, but please (accept it anyway).”

Please accept this gift.

つまらない物ですけど、どうぞ。

tsumaranai mono desu kedo, dōzo.

5. プリーズ (puriizu)

And of course I just had to end the list with the English loan word プリーズ (puriizu) which is basically the exact same word, expect that you replace the English “L” with the Japanese “R” and then pronounce each katakana like the Japanese do.

This final word I hardly hear used at all. If I were you, I’d save this one as a last resort. Or if you’re joking around when using it, that’s probably fine.

But the first four are really where the money’s at when it comes to saying please in Japanese.

Further Resources for Learning Japanese:

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15 thoughts on “How to Say Please in Japanese – 5 Ways!”

Great stuff mate, one of the best pieces of content on Japanese I’ve come across on web 🙂

The examples are so practical, learnt new phrases and enhanced my vocabulary as well in the process!!

Hey pal, I really like your post. There’s just one little thing I’ve got to bother you about. You wrote つまらない物ですけど、どうぞ。 as tsumaranai mono desu ga, dōzo. But it says ‘tsumaranai mono desu `kedo`. Otherwise, great content!! Keep going 😀

Ah dude, I totally missed that! Thanks for the heads up, got it corrected now.

You have made this an easy learning process to say please in Japanese, it’s been covered very well. I think learning new languages is a fun experience. At high school I learned Spanish and French at primary, so Japanese is something different. This will definitely help people like me who want to visit Japan. 

Yeah, it’s pretty interesting because tourism has been increasing in Japan each and every year, and in fact this year Japan saw the most foreigners of all time!

I think with the advent of the internet, and the wide distribution of smart phones to connect to said internet, more and more people are learning about Japan, anime, manga, geisha, samurai, sushi, etc. and are really gaining a passion for this unique culture and its people.

That being said, pretty much everyone I talk to wants to visit Japan at least once in their life! And if you’re gonna go, then you better know a couple basic words. My blog has a ton of them, so any help I can give, I’m happy to do!

I’ve only learned one language other than English and that was Spanish in high school and college. After reading this page it is obvious that your knowledge of the Japanese language is extensive. The way you present the 5 ways to say “Please” is well done. Are there any similarities between Japanese and Spanish? I’m interested in visiting Japan someday.

Hey Calvin, yeah I also studies some Spanish in college, although I hate to admit I didn’t take is very seriously back then, and as a result my skills with the language now are pretty much non-existent. 

As for the similarities between Japanese and Spanish, I know that many of their vowel sounds are identical to one another, and so when it comes to speaking Japanese, people who’s native language is Spanish actually have an advantage over native English people.

But besides that, I’m not too sure of any other similarities. 

Oh this is absolutely fabulous! This is great with the pronunciations and everything. So easy to follow. My husband travels to Japan several times a year, and we just love the culture. I found your website a while ago, and I’m addicted to it now. Every time you come out with a new article, I’m so excited. Thanks for such great info. There’s just not that much out there on this.

Hey Babsie, glad to hear it! Yeah, I try to help people learn the pronunciations as best as can, but of course reading it can never be a full substitute for listening to the real thing. 

That’s why I like to recommend excellent Japanese courses to people, since they have hours and hours of natives speaking.

Hopefully people can use my site as a useful resource to improve though! 

Fantastic article thanks 🙂

I’ve really wanted to learn Japanese for the longest time, I even have a cd set and book,but your site has really broken everything down for me in manageable chunks.

I have always been so confused when it came to the formal and informal versions of each, does o always help making things more formal?

Hey Mat, yeah for the most part, adding を (o) before a noun makes it more formal or polite. It’s kind of like saying that something is “honorable.” If you watch a medieval movie in English and someone says “O Great King,” it’s similar to that.

Hello Nick. Very informative. I like how you wrote the content. You made it easy to understand and included the Japanese “lettering” (I apologize if that is the wrong term). Is your entire website toward Japanese language learning? I liked the color of it, I noticed as soon as I got on. It was easy to learn the words. Good job and all the best.

Hey Billy, thanks I’m glad you liked it! I’m a little new to “blogging” and writing posts so I’m always trying to present the information in such a way that makes it easy for people. I appreciate the kind words! ^_^

I love the idea of accelerated learning, when it comes to languages, so when I came across your site, I was very excited.

I can speak several languages and have used various techniques to do so. Japanese is definitely on my list, and so your site will be one that I’m bookmarking to help me when I get there.

Thanks again – Steve

Hey Steve, very cool! Speaking several languages sounds pretty awesome! This site is still pretty new, but I’m working on adding newer things to it each and every week. Hopefully you’ll find something useful!

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Words for I do my homework in Japanese

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