Structure
Verb[て]。
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Standard
使用域
一般
About Verb[て]
In casual speech, てください is often shortened to て. This usually comes across as being a friendly way to say 'please do (A)', but may sound like a very soft order, so is best used with friends/toward people of lower status.
This nuance of て is usually able to be identified by appearing at the end of a sentence.
This nuance of て is usually able to be identified by appearing at the end of a sentence.
- 午後からお客さんが来るから部屋を片付けて。We have guests coming over during the afternoon so please clean up your room. (Said by a parent to a child)
- ペン貸して。Can you please lend me a pen?
Caution
Sometimes, other forms of て may appear at the end of a sentence. This happens most often when the speaker has not actually finished speaking, but is thinking about what they want to say next. In these cases, the pronunciation of て will usually be extended (to highlight that the person is thinking).- 駅まで走っていって...I ran to the station and…
- 約束を守れなくてすみません。I am sorry that I wasn't able to keep my promise.
- タケシのジャケットに水をこぼしちゃってごめん。Takeshi, I am sorry that I spilled water on your jacket.
Synonyms
Examples
「こしょうを取って。」
'(Please) pass me the pepper.'
「ちょっと待って。まだ聞きたいことがあるよ。」
'(Please) wait a second. I still have questions!'
待って is used when we request another person to stop what are they doing at the moment, or what are they about to do. In this example, the person it's being directed at might be about to go somewhere.
「誰か助けて!」
'(Please) somebody help me!'
母親:「部屋を片付けてね。」
子供:「うん。」Mother: '(Please) tidy up your room, okay?'
Child: 'Okay.'ね is used when requesting confirmation or agreement, it expresses the hope that the hearer will understand the speaker's expectations, therefore it can soften the request. てね is often used when speaking to children.
「このポスターを貼っておいて。」
'(Please) put up this poster.'
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The particle て
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Verb[て] – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
ekhill
So the double “te” at the end of this example is really throwing me off…why is it not just “soko de sukoshi mate” (sorry, writing on a computer without kana)? Why is the extra “te” needed?
Pushindawood
Hey! 待ってて is a contraction of 待っていて. It is used when we request another person to wait until the speaker comes back. Think of it as saying “wait and be/stay” rather than just “wait.” Cheers!
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