をください means please give me. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to ask for an item politely.
This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to ask for an item politely, をください is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.
What does をください mean?
Use をください when you want to ask for an item politely.
Natural translations include:
- please give me
- please give me
- please give me
The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.
How to form をください
Noun + をください
Examples of the pattern:
- 水をください
- これをください
- メニューをください
Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.
When is をください used?
Use をください in situations like:
- ordering or shopping
- asking for objects
- simple polite requests
Tone and register:
- polite but direct
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions
をください example sentences
- 水をください。 — Please give me water.
- これをください。 — Please give me this one.
- メニューをください。 — Please give me the menu.
- 切符を一枚ください。 — Please give me one ticket.
- 少し時間をください。 — Please give me a little time.
Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, comparison, or obligation.
Nuance of をください
The key nuance is used for requesting things, not actions.
This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For をください, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.
For example:
- In conversation, it helps the listener understand used for requesting things, not actions.
- Compared with てください, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.
をください vs てください
Both をください and てください can express related ideas, but they are different.
をください:
- requests an item
- comes after a noun
てください:
- requests an action
- comes after a verb in て-form
Quick contrast examples:
- 水をください。— Please give me water.
- 水を飲んでください。— Please drink water.
If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, compare two things, or express obligation.
Common mistakes with をください
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using をください after a verb
- Forgetting を in simple requests
- Using it when asking someone to do an action
A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.
Is をください on the JLPT?
Yes. をください is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
Practice questions for をください
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Ask for water.
- Ask for this one.
- Ask for one ticket.
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learn をください with Kanjiru
If you want to review をください together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N5 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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