kudasai

Kudasai (ください) is a Japanese expression meaning "please" used to request something from another person. It functions as a polite imperative and is commonly translated as "please give me" or "please do this for me." The form comes from the honorific verb kudasaru, and kudasai is the listener-facing part used to make a request.

Usage is most often seen in two constructions. After a verb in its te-form, kudasai forms a direct request: tabete kudasai (please eat), matte kudasai (please wait), kite kudasai (please come here). After a noun with the object marker o, it expresses “please give me [X]”: mizu o kudasai (water, please). It can also stand alone in polite commands such as “Chotto matte kudasai” (please wait a moment).

Nuances and context are important. Kudasai is widely used in everyday speech, especially in service contexts like shops and restaurants. It is polite but relatively direct; among close friends or family, softer or more casual forms may be preferred. In very formal situations, speakers may choose alternatives such as onegaishimasu or other respectful phrasing to soften the request.

See also: onegaishimasu. In practice, kudasai remains a versatile, commonly understood way to request something in Japanese, spanning casual to polite interactions, with formality increasing through context and additional polite expressions.