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After choosing an item in a shop, you can ask the clerk to give it to you. What does the customer in the picture want?

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1

〜をください~ o kudasai

polite request for an item

Use 「〜をください」 after the item name to politely ask someone to give it to you.

How it works

  1. After choosing an item in a shop, you can ask the clerk to give it to you. What does the customer in the picture want?

    After choosing an item in a shop, you can ask the clerk to give it to you. What does the customer in the picture want?

  2. 「をください」 means “Please give me.” The speaker wants to receive an item from the other person.

    「をください」 means “Please give me.” The speaker wants to receive an item from the other person.

  3. You can use it beyond shopping, too. When asking someone for an item, say “item + をください”.

    You can use it beyond shopping, too. When asking someone for an item, say “item + をください”.

  4. Name the item you want first, then add 「をください」. You can put 「この雑誌」 before it, too.

    Name the item you want first, then add 「をください」. You can put 「この雑誌」 before it, too.

  5. The particle is written 「を」 but pronounced 「お」. Don’t pronounce it “wo” when reading the sentence.

    The particle is written 「を」 but pronounced 「お」. Don’t pronounce it “wo” when reading the sentence.

  6. 「ください」 makes the request polite. To get the clerk’s attention, you can start with 「すみません」.

「ください」 makes the request polite. To get the clerk’s attention, you can start with 「すみません」.

  • 「いくらですか」 asks the price. Once you’ve chosen an item and want to receive it, use 「をください」.

    「いくらですか」 asks the price. Once you’ve chosen an item and want to receive it, use 「をください」.

  • In the example, 「3つ」 is read 「みっつ」, not 「さんつ」. Here, the speaker asks for three apples.

    In the example, 「3つ」 is read 「みっつ」, not 「さんつ」. Here, the speaker asks for three apples.

  • In the example, 「10枚」 is read 「じゅうまい」. Read the number and 「まい」 together.

    In the example, 「10枚」 is read 「じゅうまい」. Read the number and 「まい」 together.

  • You can count apples with 「つ」; thin, flat stamps use 「枚」. The counter changes depending on the item.

    You can count apples with 「つ」; thin, flat stamps use 「枚」. The counter changes depending on the item.

  • Example sentences

    • りんごringoをo3つみっつmittsuください。くださいkudasai

      Please give me three apples.

    • 切手きってkitteをo10枚じゅうまいjuumaiください。くださいkudasai

      Please give me ten stamps.

    In a conversation

    • A
      すみません、すみませんりんごを3個さんこください。ください

      A: Excuse me, please give me three apples.

    • B
      はい、はい3個さんこですね。ね

      B: Sure, three apples.

    • A
      この雑誌ざっしをください。ください

      A: I'll take this magazine, please.

    • B
      ありがとうございます。ございます

      B: Thank you.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      Please give me 3 apples.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      すみません、りんご 3 個ください。

      Excuse me, three apples, please.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 〜はどこですかasking where something is
    • ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこplace words by distance
    • 〜は何階ですかasking which floor
    • 〜はいくらですかasking the price
    • この〜・その〜・あの〜which item by distance
    • 〜をくださいpolite request for an item
    • 何の〜asking kind or contents
    • どこの〜ask where from
    • 〜を〜くださいpolite request when ordering
    • 誰の〜ask who owns it
    Previousこの〜・その〜・あの〜Next何の〜

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