Understanding ~てください (te kudasai): A Streetwise JLPT N5 Grammar Guide

ボス、ちょっと おかね を かしてください
Bosu, chotto okane o kashite kudasai.
Boss, please lend me a little money.

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The nuance of this grammar is all about respect and politeness. When you use 〜てください, you ain’t just barkin’ orders like a low-level enforcer. You’re makin’ a polite request, showin’ that you got some class. It’s the difference between sayin’ “Gimme that cash” and “Can you please hand over the loot?” The first one gets you in a firefight, the second one might just get you a seat at the table. It’s a fundamental part of showin’ respect, even when you’re makin’ demands. Think of it like a mob boss’s velvet glove over an iron fist. You still get what you want, but you do it with style.


This is how you turn a verb into a request. Get this wrong, and you might as well sleep with the fishes.

Verb TypeJapanese (Hiragana)RomanizationEnglish Translation
Group 1
(-u verbs)
はなしてくださいhanashite kudasaiPlease speak
Group 2
(-eru, -iru verbs)
みてくださいmite kudasaiPlease look
Group 3 (Irregular)きてくださいkite kudasaiPlease come
してくださいshite kudasaiPlease do

To use this, you gotta first know your verbs’ te-form. For Group 1, you gotta drop the last ‘u’ sound and add the te-form sound. So a verb like かう (kau) becomes かって (katte). For Group 2, it’s a simple move: you just chop off the る (ru) and slap on て (te). So みる (miru) becomes みて (mite). The irregulars are their own thing; する (suru) is して (shite) and くる (kuru) is きて (kite). Once you got the te-form, you just tag on ください (kudasai), and boom, you got a polite request ready to roll. You mess this up, you’ll be lookin’ like a real chump.


Think of ~てください like you’re hittin’ up your neighborhood plug. You don’t just roll up and demand your goods, right? Nah, you gotta be smooth. You hit ’em with, “Yo, can I get a little somethin’ somethin’?” That’s ~てください. You’re showin’ respect, keepin’ it cool, and gettin’ what you need. It’s a transaction of trust, not a stick-up. You’re askin’ politely for a handout, and they’re more likely to come through for you when you show that respect. It’s the language of the streets, and it keeps everyone outta trouble.


Ay, here are some words you need to know to be legit.

かぞえる (kazoeru)

English: To count.

When you get that paper, you don’t just shove it in your pocket. Nah, you gotta count it, every last dollar. You gotta know exactly what you got. It’s about bein’ straight with yourself and makin’ sure you ain’t gettin’ played. You count your crew, you count your blessings, you count the stacks. It’s how you stay on top, word.


ちゃんと (chanto)

English: Properly; precisely; carefully.

You gotta do things properly. You can’t be half-steppin’ or doin’ a sloppy job. When you got a hustle, you gotta handle it carefully and precisely. It means you show up on time, you got your gear right, and you don’t mess up the drop. If you don’t do it properly, you get burned. It’s all about respect and makin’ sure you ain’t a liability.


わたす (watasu)

English: To hand over; to give.

When you hand over the goods, it’s gotta be smooth. No funny business. You meet your connect, you pass ’em the package, and they give you the money. It’s a quick exchange, no talkin’, no eye contact. You don’t hesitate. You give ’em what they need, and you get what’s yours. It’s about trust and gettin’ the job done, no questions asked.


さがす (sagasu)

English: To look for; to search for.

You gotta be on the lookout for a come-up. You’re always lookin’ for an opportunity. Whether it’s searchin’ for a new spot to set up shop or lookin’ for that one dude who owes you money, you stay on your grind. You ain’t sittin’ around waitin’ for things to happen. You search the streets, you look for the next move. That’s the hustle.


ぬすむ (nusumu)

English: To steal; to rob.

This right here is for the paper. You steal what ain’t yours. You creep in, you snatch the goods, and you get gone. It’s a quick hit. You gotta be slick, silent, and smart. Whether you’re robbing a place or just stealing a glance at someone’s hand, it’s about takin’ what you want. It’s all about survivin’ and gettin’ a piece of the pie by any means necessary.


Peep these sentences to see some real examples.

ぶき を かくして ください。
Buki o kakushite kudasai.
Please hide the weapons.

まねー を かぞえて ください。
Manee o kazoete kudasai.
Please count the money.

けいさつ から にげて ください。
Keisatsu kara nigete kudasai.
Please run away from the police.

くるま を ぬすんで ください。
Kuruma o nusunde kudasai.
Please steal the car.

だれ にも いわないで ください。
Dare nimo iwanaide kudasai.
Please don’t tell anyone.

ちゃんと きいて ください。
Chanto kiite kudasai.
Please listen carefully.

ボスの ために はたらいて ください。
Bosu no tame ni hataraite kudasai.
Please work for the boss.

かね を わたして ください。
Kane o watashite kudasai.
Please hand over the money.

じょうほう を さがして ください。
Jouhou o sagashite kudasai.
Please search for information.

てき の しゃしん を とって ください。
Teki no shashin o totte kudasai.
Please take a picture of the enemy.


Aight, that’s the lowdown on ~てください. Remember, keep it real, keep it polite, and you’ll always get what you need.

Later, homie. Stay true.

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