Unit 2 - Section 4: Requests and Responses

Practice Quiz

Requests and Responses

Learn how to make polite requests and give appropriate responses in Japanese. These expressions are essential for daily communication.

Making Requests with 〜をください

Pattern: [Item] + を + ください

Usage: Politely asking for something

Meaning: "Please give me [item]" / "I'd like [item], please"

Basic Examples:
水みずをください。
[Mizu wo kudasai]
Translation: Please give me water.
コーヒーをください。
[Koohii wo kudasai]
Translation: I'd like coffee, please.
これをください。
[Kore wo kudasai]
Translation: I'll take this, please.
本ほんを一冊いっさつください。
[Hon wo issatsu kudasai]
Translation: Please give me one book.
塩しおをください。
[Shio wo kudasai]
Translation: Please pass the salt.
メニューをください。
[Menyuu wo kudasai]
Translation: May I have a menu, please?

Positive Responses - はい (Yes)

はい
[Hai]
Yes (polite)
ええ
[Ee]
Yes (softer, more casual)
はい、そうです
[Hai, sou desu]
Yes, that's right
はい、分わかりました
[Hai, wakarimashita]
Yes, I understood
はい、大丈夫だいじょうぶです
[Hai, daijoubu desu]
Yes, it's okay / Yes, I'm fine
もちろん
[Mochiron]
Of course / Certainly

Negative Responses - いいえ (No)

いいえ
[Iie]
No (polite)
いいえ、違ちがいます
[Iie, chigaimasu]
No, that's not right
いいえ、そうじゃありません
[Iie, sou ja arimasen]
No, that's not so
いいえ、結構けっこうです
[Iie, kekkou desu]
No, thank you (declining offer)
すみません、無理むりです
[Sumimasen, muri desu]
Sorry, that's impossible
ちょっと...
[Chotto...]
Well... (polite refusal)
Cultural Note: Japanese people often avoid saying いいえ directly. Instead, they use softer expressions like "ちょっと..." (well...), "すみません" (sorry), or "結構です" (no thank you) to decline politely.

Common Question and Answer Patterns

Q: これはいくらですか。
[Kore wa ikura desu ka]
Question: How much is this?
A: 千円せんえんです。
[Sen-en desu]
Answer: It's 1000 yen.
Q: すみません、トイレはどこですか。
[Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka]
Question: Excuse me, where is the restroom?
A: あそこです。
[Asoko desu]
Answer: It's over there.
Q: 写真しゃしんを撮とってもいいですか。
[Shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka]
Question: May I take a photo?
A: はい、どうぞ。
[Hai, douzo]
Answer: Yes, go ahead.

Practical Situations

At a Restaurant:
Japanese Romaji English
すみません、メニューをください。 Sumimasen, menyuu wo kudasai Excuse me, may I have a menu?
これをください。 Kore wo kudasai I'll have this, please.
水みずをください。 Mizu wo kudasai Water, please.
会計かいけいをお願ねがいします。 Kaikei wo onegai shimasu Check, please.
At a Store:
Japanese Romaji English
これをください。 Kore wo kudasai I'll take this, please.
袋ふくろをください。 Fukuro wo kudasai May I have a bag?
いいえ、結構けっこうです。 Iie, kekkou desu No, thank you. (declining a bag)

Practice Dialogue

Customer: すみません。
[Sumimasen]
Excuse me.

Staff: はい。
[Hai]
Yes?

Customer: これをください。
[Kore wo kudasai]
I'll take this, please.

Staff: はい、分わかりました。
[Hai, wakarimashita]
Yes, understood.

Staff: 袋ふくろはいりますか。
[Fukuro wa irimasu ka]
Do you need a bag?

Customer: はい、お願ねがいします。
[Hai, onegai shimasu]
Yes, please.

Study Tips

Mastering Requests and Responses:
  • Practice ください: Use with different items you see around you
  • Politeness levels: はい and いいえ are always polite and safe to use
  • Soft refusals: Practice using ちょっと and 結構です instead of direct いいえ
  • Body language: A slight bow while saying はい or いいえ adds politeness
  • Listen carefully: Pay attention to how native speakers use these expressions
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz