てください means please do. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to make a polite request for an action.
This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to make a polite request for an action, てください is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.
What does てください mean?
Use てください when you want to make a polite request for an action.
Natural translations include:
- please do
- please do
- please do
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 てください
Verb て-form + ください
Examples of the pattern:
- 見てください
- 書いてください
- 待ってください
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 てください used?
Use てください in situations like:
- classroom instructions
- polite requests
- asking for help
Tone and register:
- polite but direct
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions
てください example sentences
- ここに名前を書いてください。 — Please write your name here.
- 少し待ってください。 — Please wait a moment.
- この漢字を読んでください。 — Please read this kanji.
- ドアを閉めてください。 — Please close the door.
- もう一度言ってください。 — Please say it one more 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 てください
The key nuance is a clear request for someone to do an action.
This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For てください, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.
For example:
- In conversation, it helps the listener understand a clear request for someone to do an action.
- Compared with をください, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.
てください vs をください
Both てください and をください can express related ideas, but they are different.
てください:
- requests an action
- uses verb て-form
をください:
- requests an item
- uses noun + を
Quick contrast examples:
- 名前を書いてください。— Please write your name.
- 水をください。— Please give me 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 てください
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using dictionary form before ください
- Using てください to ask for objects
- Forgetting it can sound like an instruction depending on tone
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 てください on the JLPT?
Yes. てください 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 てください
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Ask someone to wait.
- Ask someone to write their name.
- Ask someone to say it again.
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 てください with Kanjiru
If you want to review てください together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N5 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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