JLPT N5 grammar · The TE-Form Core
~てください / 〜ないでください: meaning, usage and examples
~てください / 〜ないでください means: please do... / please don't do...
How to form it
＜Verb-て＞ + ください / ＜Verb-ないで＞ + ください
Examples
ここに名前を書いてください。
Please write your name in here.
ここで走らないでください。
Please don't run here.
もう少しゆっくり話してください。
Please speak a little more slowly.
教室で食べないでください。
Please don’t eat in the classroom.
When to use it
〜てください is a polite request ('please do'). 〜ないでください politely asks someone not to do something.
Nuance
These are still requests, not commands. Using them with strangers or superiors is appropriate.
Compare
〜なさい is a softer command (from superior to subordinate). 〜な (plain) is a blunt prohibition.
Tip: Don't confuse 〜ないでください (please don't do X) with 〜なくてもいいです (you don't have to do X).
More on this in The Japanese te-form.
More in The TE-Form Core
- Verb Group [dictionary-form] Version: Verb groups by dictionary form: Group 1 (-u verbs, including some -iru/-eru verbs such as 帰る and 走る), Group 2 (-iru/-eru verbs such as 食べる and 見る), Group 3 (irregular: する and 来る)
- Verb Group [masu-form] Version: Masu form: Group 1 verbs change the final -u to -i + ます (飲む → 飲みます); Group 2 verbs drop る + ます (食べる → 食べます, 見る → 見ます); する → します, 来る → 来ます
- Plain style [Verb]: (Conjugation for verbs, plain form)
- Polite style [Verb]: (Conjugation for verbs, polite form)
- Verb て形 (Te form): Verb te-form (used for requests, joining actions, etc.)
- ~て: (used to join two or more sentences/actions together)
- ~ています: (1. an action in progress) (2. a resulting condition/state)
- ~てはいけません: must not... (strong prohibition)
- ~てもいいですか: may I [Verb]? (asking for permission)
Frequently asked questions
What does ~てください / 〜ないでください mean?
Please do... / please don't do.... Example: ここに名前を書いてください。 (Please write your name in here.)
How do you form ~てください / 〜ないでください?
＜Verb-て＞ + ください / ＜Verb-ないで＞ + ください. Don't confuse 〜ないでください (please don't do X) with 〜なくてもいいです (you don't have to do X).