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
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
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.
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
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
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learning path for てください
Related grammar to review next
- をください — contrasts request, permission, prohibition, advice, and obligation strength.
- ないでください — contrasts request, permission, prohibition, advice, and obligation strength.
- てもいいです — contrasts request, permission, prohibition, advice, and obligation strength.
- てはいけない — contrasts request, permission, prohibition, advice, and obligation strength.
Learn てください with Hane
If you want to review てください together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about てください
What does てください mean in Japanese?
てください means “please do” in Japanese. It is an N5 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is てください on the JLPT?
てください is taught as N5 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N5 patterns.
How should I practice てください?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after てください, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.