Part 4 · Actions and attitude · Lesson 34
Invitations, requests and commands
Let's do it (volitional), please do it (て-form and ください), do it! (imperative), don't do it (な and ないで): the forms for getting other people to act, from gentle suggestion to blunt order.
When you want someone to do something, Japanese has a ladder of forms from very gentle to very blunt. In stories you'll see all of them, and the choice tells you a lot about the speaker and the relationship.
Suggestions: ましょう and the volitional
Polite stem + ましょう is "let's" or "shall we":
The plain version is the volitional form:
| Type | How | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ru-verb | drop る, add よう | 食べる → 食べよう |
| u-verb | change final u-sound to the o-row + う | 書く → 書こう、飲む → 飲もう、行く → 行こう、買う → 買おう |
| する | しよう | |
| 来る | 来よう (こよう) |
The same form has another job: "I'm thinking of doing". 〜(よ)うと思う reports an intention.
Invitations: ませんか
A negative question is the polite way to invite.
Compare with ましょう ("let's"). 〜ませんか is softer: it gives the listener room to say no. Casually: 行かない？ (won't you go?) or 行こうよ (let's go!).
Requests: ください and its relatives
You met て-form + ください. Here's the whole ladder, from gentlest to bluntest:
| Form | Feel |
|---|---|
| お願いします | please (do me the favour), polite |
| 〜ていただけませんか | could you possibly... (very polite) |
| 〜てくださいませんか | would you kindly... |
| 〜てください | please do |
| 〜てくれませんか | won't you do for me (a bit casual) |
| 〜てくれる？ | will you? (casual) |
| 〜て | do it (casual, to friends) |
Please don't
ない-form + で + ください asks someone not to do something.
Orders: the imperative
The imperative is a direct command. It's blunt, used by drill sergeants, angry parents and manga heroes.
| Type | Imperative |
|---|---|
| ru-verb | drop る, add ろ: 食べろ |
| u-verb | change to the e-row: 書け、飲め、行け、待て |
| する | しろ |
| 来る | 来い (こい) |
The negative command is dictionary form + な:
This is the form on signs like 止まれ (stop) and 触るな (don't touch), and in action-story dialogue. Don't use it with anyone you want to stay friends with.
Softer: なさい
Polite stem + なさい is a firm but not rude command, the way a parent or teacher speaks:
Casual and written ways to say "please"
You'll also see:
- 〜てください in signs and writing: 押してください (please push).
- お〜ください: ご注意ください (please be careful), formal.
- 〜(て)ほしい: I want you to do it.
- 〜てもらえませんか: "could I have you do it"? polite.
Reading the register
When a character in a story uses 〜ろ or 〜な, they're being rough, angry or close. When they use 〜てください, they're polite or distant. When they use 〜て, they're friendly. So the form tells you about the relationship before you read a single word of the context.
Longer sentences
The same speaker can climb and descend the ladder of politeness in a few lines. Listen for the register.
The same content, between friends and then in anger:
Key points
- ましょう / volitional (よう, おう): let's. Also, with と思う: I'm thinking of.
- ませんか / ない？: inviting.
- てください: please do. ないでください: please don't.
- Imperative (食べろ, 書け, しろ, 来い) and 〜な are blunt commands.
- なさい is a firm parental command.
Drill these patterns
Short example sentences for the points in this lesson: