てください (te kudasai) — Polite Request / Instruction
The standard way to politely make a request, give an instruction, or tell someone what to do. Though it translates as 'please', it functions as a direct (top-down) instruction from the speaker.
Structure
[Verb te-form] + ください
Examples
ちょっと待ってください。
Chotto matte kudasai.
Please wait a moment.
待って (te-form of 待つ) + ください
ここに名前を書いてください。
Koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name here.
書いて (te-form of 書く) + ください
ゆっくり話してください。
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Please speak slowly.
話して (te-form of 話す) + ください
• Negative Requests: To say 'Please do NOT…', do not use the te-form — use the ない-form + でください: 走らないでください (please don't run). • Formality Level: Despite the 'please', this is a top-down instruction. To ask a superior for a favor, use a humbler request such as ていただけませんか (Would you kindly…?).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones てください is tested against.
vs ないでください (negative request)
てください asks someone TO do something; ないでください asks them NOT to (書いてください = please write / 書かないでください = please don't write).
vs ていただけませんか (humble request)
てください is a polite but direct instruction (fine to a peer, subordinate, or in service contexts); ていただけませんか is far more deferential and appropriate for asking a boss or teacher a favor.
More verb forms
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