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How to Say “Please Do…” in Japanese with ～てください
Knowing how to ask someone to do something is an essential part of everyday Japanese. To make a polite request such as “Please close the door” or “Please wait,” you can use ～てください. ～てください Please do (something) JLPT Level: N5 Want to actually remember this? Practice it with spaced repetition and example sentences built from […]
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How to Say “Someone Does Something for Me” in Japanese with ～てくれる
The Japanese verb くれる means “to give,” specifically when someone gives something to you or someone on your side. That same idea can also be applied to actions. By attaching くれる to the て-form of a verb, ～てくれる expresses that someone does something for you or someone close to you. ～てくれる Someone does something for […]
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How to Say “Do Something for Someone” in Japanese with ～てあげる
In Japanese, the verb あげる means “to give.” But giving doesn’t have to involve a physical object. By attaching あげる to the て-form of another verb, you can express doing an action for someone else. This creates the grammar pattern ～てあげる, which shows that someone performs an action for another person’s benefit. ～てあげる Do something […]
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How to Say “Thank You for…” in Japanese with ～てくれてありがとう
In English, we often thank someone for a specific action: “Thank you for helping me,” “Thanks for coming,” or “Thank you for explaining.” In Japanese, you can do the same with ～てくれてありがとう, a useful pattern that combines the て-form of a verb with くれる and ありがとう. ～てくれてありがとう Thank you for (doing something) JLPT Level: N4 […]
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How to Use せっかく in Japanese: Making the Most of an Opportunity or Effort
Sometimes you put time or effort into something and want to make sure it doesn’t go to waste. Other times, a valuable opportunity comes along and you want to make the most of it. In Japanese, せっかく is commonly used in both of these situations. せっかく Making the most of an opportunity or effort / after […]
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How to Say “It Won’t Do to Just…” in Japanese with ではすまない
Sometimes, an action or excuse just isn’t enough. You need more than just an apology or simply paying back the cost. In Japanese, when something goes beyond a simple resolution, the phrase ではすまない is used. This formal grammar point signals that something won’t end or be resolved with just one action. It will take more. […]
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How to Say “Therefore” and Show Cause-Effect in Japanese with にしたがって and したがって
Some changes lead naturally to others. When one thing happens and another follows because of it, Japanese has a formal way to express that connection. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use にしたがって to show how one situation develops in response to another, and how したがって on its own can mean “therefore” in formal […]
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How to Say “Compared To” in Japanese with ～に比べて
Want to compare two things without saying one is better than the other? The Japanese phrase ～に比べて is the perfect way to say “compared to” when you’re highlighting differences or similarities between two nouns. Whether you’re talking about cities, seasons, or apps, this grammar point helps you draw a simple, clear comparison. ～に比(くら)べて Compared to […]
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How to Express Ongoing Change in Japanese with ～つつある
Some changes do not happen all at once. They unfold gradually. In written Japanese, when you want to describe something that is in the middle of changing, the grammar pattern ～つつある is exactly what you need. Whether something is rising, falling, or quietly shifting, this structure helps you show the process of transformation. ～つつある Is […]
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How to Say “Make Someone Do Something” in Japanese with the Causative Form
Want to say you made someone clean their room, or let a friend borrow your car? In Japanese, these ideas use the causative form. This verb form shows that someone caused or allowed another person to do something. It can sound strict or generous depending on context. Causative Form To make/let someone do something JLPT […]