JAPANESE LESSON, Minna no Nihongo

Minna no Nihongo 14 : Making Requests and Suggestions

Minna no Nihongo Lesson 14 making requests and suggestions

こんにちは、みなさん😄 おじゃちゃんです。

It’s been a while since I posted the lesson of Minna no Nihongo.
Today is Minna no Nihongo lesson 14: Making Requests and Suggestions in Japanese”. Expressions of making requests and suggestions differ from the situations or the people. You want to use them correctly because that would determine your impression, don’t you?
Let’s learn these expressions together with te-form I taught in previous lessons together.

Let’s get started!

⭐️This lesson is following the textbook “Minna no Nihongo”. (*not perfectly)

⭐️I’m going to give a lesson easier to understand for Japanese learners without following textbook’s orders.

CONTENTS

■ Making Requests in Japanese


*⭐️ appears the expressions in Minna no Nihongo.

Let’s learn the phrases of making requests the listener.
Please read this if you didn’t learn “how to conjugate te-from”.

Casual Expressions | Making Requests

You can use these expressions below when you want to make requests casually to your close people like your friends or family.

casual expressions making requests

te-form + くれる? Can you ~?

窓 開けて くれる
mado aketekureru
Can you open the window?

te-form + くれない? Can’t you ~?

ドア 閉めて くれない
doa shimete kurenai
Can’t you close the door?

You can imply politer casual expressions  by using the negative form.
*I translate Japanese into English directly because I couldn’t find good English translations.

Suitable Casual Responses | Making Requests

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
もちろん。
mochiron
Of course. when you are willing to do something
いいよ。
iiyo
Sure.when you are fine to do something
オッケー。
okkei
OK. for casual situations
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
ごめん、できない。
gomen dekinai
Sorry, I can’t.when you decline it
ちょっと、ごめん。
chotto gomen
Ah, I’m sorry.  when you imply declining
いや、できない。
iya dekinai
No, I can’t.when you refuse definitely
いやだ。
iyada
No.when you don’t want to do something

Polite Expressions | Making Requests

You can use these expressions below when you want to make requests politely to your co-workers or strangers etc.

polite expressions making requests
te-form + くれませんか。Could you ~?

日本語を 教えて くれませんか
nihongo wo oshiete kuremasenka
Could you tell me Japanese?

⭐️ [Noun] を お願います。Please ~.

日本語の 訂正を お願いします
nihongo no teisei wo onegaishimasu
Please correct my Japanese.

⭐️ te-form + ください。~, please.

この英語を 日本語に 訳して ください
kono eigo wo nihongo ni yakushite kudasai
Translate English into Japanese, please.

te-form + いただけると 助かりますIt would be appreciated if ~.

メールを 送って いただけると 助かります
meeru wo okutte itadakeru to tasukarimasu
It would be appreciated if you send me an e-mail.

Suitable Polite Responses | Making Requests

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
いいですよ。
iidesuyo
Sure. when you are fine to do something
わかりました。
wakarimashita
I got it.when you approve to do something
了解です。
ryoukai desu
I see.when you approve to do something (formal)
かまいませんよ。
kamaimasenyo
I don’t mind. when you don’t care to do something
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
申し訳ないです。
moushiwakenaidesu
*I’m sorry for that. when you decline it
ごめんなさい。
gomennasai
I’m sorry. when you decline it gently
すみません、ちょっと。
sumimasen chotto
Umm, I’m sorry.when you want to say it in a roundabout way
できません。
dekimasen
No, I can’t. when you refuse it directly
いやです。
iyadesu
*No, I don’t want. when you don’t want to do something
お断りします。
okotowarishimasu
*I refuse it. when you refuse it decidedly
*I translate Japanese into English directly because I couldn’t find good English translations.

Graceful Polite Phrases for Business | Making Requests

Be careful when you make requests to superior people, elder people or your clients etc.

graceful polite phrases for business making requests

te-form + いただけますか。Could you ~?

イスを 持ってきて いただけますか
isu wo mottekite itadakemasuka
Could you bring a chair ?

te-form + もらえませんか。Could you ~?

ここを 通して もらえませんか
koko wo tooshite moraemasenka
Could you let me through here, please?

[Noun] + 頂きますよう お願い致します。Please ~.

すぐに ご連絡 頂きますよう お願い致します
sugu ni gorenraku itadakimasuyou onegai itashimasu
Please let me know as soon as possible.

[Noun] + 頂きますよう お願い申し上げます。Please ~.

添付ファイルを ご確認 頂きますよう お願い申し上げます。
teupu-fairu wo gokakunin itadakimasuyou onegai moushiagemasu
Please confirm the attached file.

Suitable Graceful Polite Responses for Business | Making Requests

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
了解いたしました。
ryoukai itashimashita
I understand. when you approve it formally
かしこまりました。
kashikomarimashita
Certainly. when you approve it formally for your superior people, clients or customers
承知いたしました。
shouchi itashimashita
Absolutely.when you approve it formally to your bosses on business
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglish Usages
申し訳ありません。
moushiwake arimasen
I’m so sorry. when you decline it gently
申し訳ありませんが、[Noun] 致しかねます。
moushiwake arimasen ga itashikanemasu
I’m afraid that we are not able to do [Noun]. when you decline it in a roundabout on business 
申し訳ありませんが、お断り申し上げます。
moushiwake arimasen ga okotowari moushiagemasu
We regret to say that we will decide to decline your request. when you decline it directly on business

■ Making Suggestions in Japanese


I’m going to tell you the expressions of making suggestions to your listener here.

*⭐️ appears expressions in みんなの日本語.

Casual Expressions | Making Suggestions

You can use these expressions below when you want to make suggestions casually to your close people like your friends or family.

casual expressions making su

volitional form + か。Do you want me to ~?

荷物 持とう か。
nimotsu motouka
Do you want me to hold your bag?

Suitable Casual Responses | Making Suggestions

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
うん、お願い。
un onegai
Yes, please. when you want the speaker to do something
ありがとう。
arigatou
Thanks.when you want to say your gratitude
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
ありがとう、でも いいや。
arigatou demo iiya
Thanks, but I’m all right. when you want to decline it gently
いや、いいよ。
iya iiyo
I’m good, thanks.when you want to decline it modestly
いや、大丈夫。
iya daijoubu
I’m fine, thanks. when you want to decline it casually
いや、いい。
iya ii
Ah, no.when you don’t want the speaker to do

Polite Expressions | Making Suggestions

You can use these expressions below when you want to make suggestions politely to your co-workers or strangers etc.

polite expressions making suggestions

⭐️ masu form + ましょうか。Can I ~? / Shall I ~?

お手伝いし ましょうか
otetsudai mashouka
Can I give you a hand?

Suitable Polite Responses | Making Suggestions

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
ぜひ、お願いします。
zehi onegaishimasu
I really appreciate it. when you want the speaker to do willingly
お願いします。
onegaishimasu
Yes, please. when you want the speaker to do
ありがとうございます。
arigatou gozaimasu
Thank you. when you want to say your gratitude
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsagess
いいえ、大丈夫です。
iie daijoubu desu
No, I’m good. when you want to decline it in a roundabout
ありがとうございます、でも 大丈夫です。
arigatou gozaimasu demo daijoubu desu
Thank you, but it’s fine with me. when you want to decline it politely
お気遣い ありがたいですが、大丈夫です。
okizukai arigattai desu ga
I appreciate the offer, but I’m okay. when you want to decline it gently and tell your gratitude

Graceful Polite Phrases for Business | Making Suggestions

Here is graceful polite phrases in a hotel or on business etc.

graceful polite phrases for businees making suggestions

[Noun] + を どうぞ。Here is ~.

お茶を どうぞ
ocha wo douzo
Here is your tea.

+ masu form + いたしましょうか。Would you like me to ~?

何か 飲み物 持ち いたしましょうか
nanika nomimono omochi itashimashouka
Would you like me to get you something to drink?

Suitable Graceful Polite Responses for Business | Making Suggestions

・Positive Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
宜しく お願いします。
yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Yes, please. when you want to be offered formally
有難うございます。
arigatougozaimasu
Thank you very much. when you want to say your gratitude
恐縮です、有難うざいます。
kyoushukudesu arigatougozaimasu
I am really grateful, thank you. when you want to be offered to your superior people
・Negative Responses
JapaneseEnglishUsages
いいえ、結構です。
iie kekkou desu
No, thank you. when you refuse directly
とんでもない、お気遣いなく。
tondemonai okizukainaku
Thank you for your consideration but it’s fine with me. when you want to decline it politely to elder or superior people
有難うございます、お構いなく。
arigatougozaimasu okamainaku
That’s very kind of you, but don’t bother yourself. when you want to decline modestly and tell your gratitude
恐れ入りますが、私は 結構です。
osoreirimasuga watashi wa kekkou desu
I’m afraid that I’m good. when you want to decline it gently on business

■ Making Requests QUIZ


■ Homework


Here is your homework today. Please translate Japanese into English and comment below.

1. 漢字の 読み方を 教えて ください。
2.もう少し ゆっくり 話し ましょうか。

Okay, that’s all for today!
Good luck with your Japanese study 😊🍀

MINNA NO NIHONGO,VOL.1-W/CD (Japanese) Paperback 

Publisher:3 A corporation (2nd Edition)

P.S. My English skill is not enough yet. Please correct me with DM from CONTACT if my English is wrong. Thank you for your cooperation!

NEXT LESSON is:
Minna no Nihongo 15 ①: Permissions and Prohibitions

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Minna no Nihongo 13 : Watashi wa Onigiri wo Kai ni Ikimasu