Basic polite request for a concrete object. Used in shops, restaurants, and daily conversation. The object noun takes を. Cannot be used for requesting actions — use Vてください for that. The bare ください can also stand alone as 'please'.

The most general polite request and negative request pattern. Vてください asks someone to perform an action. Vないでください asks someone to refrain from doing something. ください is the imperative of くださる (to give to me), so the pattern is inherently polite. In very casual speech, ください can be dropped, leaving just Vて (with rising intonation for request).

The volitional form expresses two main functions: (1) proposing a joint action ('Let's do X'), and (2) stating the speaker's own resolve ('I think I'll do X'). The polite form ましょう is the standard for invitations in daily conversation. The plain volitional よう is informal and can also express conjecture when combined with と思う. The negative form まい is rare in modern speech. Use ましょうか for a softer, more consultative invitation (see ましょうか entry).

A polite, open invitation that explicitly leaves room for the listener to decline. The negative question form softens the proposal compared to ましょう, making it more considerate. ましょう tends to assume the listener will agree; ませんか genuinely invites a yes/no response and is safer when you are unsure of the other person's wishes or schedule.

Two related uses: (1) offering to do something for the listener — expresses the speaker's willingness to perform the action for the listener's benefit. (2) proposing a joint action tentatively, more consultative than plain ましょう. With rising intonation it leans toward an offer; with flat intonation it leans toward a group proposal. The offer usage is similar to 'Shall I ~?' in English. The listener can accept or decline without social pressure.

The plain imperative form, used for direct, forceful commands. In modern Japanese, heavily restricted in register: used by senior speakers to juniors (parents to children, teachers to students, military), in emergency warnings (逃げろ!), in sports cheers (走れ!), and in traffic signs (止まれ). Using this form toward a superior or stranger is extremely rude. Even among equals, it can sound harsh or angry. The embedded imperative in indirect speech (〜と言った) is a different usage.

The plain negative imperative — the informal, forceful way to forbid an action. Simply attach な to the dictionary form. Used in the same restricted register as the affirmative imperative: among close friends (in anger or play), by superiors to inferiors, in emergency warnings, and on prohibitory signs (入るな, 触るな). Cannot be used in polite contexts. The polite equivalent is Vないでください.

A command form used by someone in a position of authority and care — parents to children, teachers to students, doctors to patients. Softer and more caring than the bare imperative (命令形), but firmer and more directive than Vてください. Attaches to the masu-stem. The tone conveys 'I'm telling you this for your own good'. Often used for instructions, scolding, or encouragement.

Grants permission or indicates that an action is allowed. The speaker gives explicit or implicit approval. To ask for permission, use the question form 〜てもいいですか. The past form 〜てもよかった expresses that doing something would have been acceptable in hindsight. The casual form drops です. Do not confuse with 〜てはいい which does not exist as a permission pattern.

Strong but standard prohibition pattern. States that an action is forbidden by rules, norms, or the speaker's authority. 〜ではいけません is the variant after 〜む・ぶ・ぬ verbs due to sound change (読む→読んではいけません). The colloquial contraction is 〜ちゃいけない (from 〜てはいけない) and 〜じゃいけない (from 〜ではいけない). Note: 〜なくてはいけません means 'must do' (double negative = obligation), which is completely different — that is equivalent to 〜なければなりません. Do not confuse!

Expresses obligation or necessity — something must be done or is required. The pattern is a double negative: 'if (I) do not do V, it will not do / it won't be acceptable' → therefore 'I must do V'. なければなりません is the standard form; なくてはなりません is slightly more emphatic. The shorter casual forms: 〜なければならない / 〜なくてはならない (no ます). Colloquial contractions: 〜なきゃいけない, 〜なくちゃいけない. The pattern 〜なければいけません is equally common and interchangeable.

Expresses that an action is not required — there is no obligation or necessity. なくてもいい is the general form. なくてもかまいません is slightly more formal and emphasizes 'I don't mind if you don't'. The positive counterpart is 〜なければなりません. This pattern is the negative converse: 'you must do X' vs 'you don't have to do X'. Compare with 〜てはいけません which means 'you must NOT do X' — this is different from 'you don't have to do X'.

A more deferential request form than plain ください. The negative question form 〜ませんか softens the request and gives the listener room to decline, making it more polite and considerate. Equivalent to 'would you be so kind as to ~?'. Commonly used in customer service and formal situations.

Honorific request pattern elevating the listener's action. Used in public announcements, signage, and formal spoken requests. The prefix お attaches to native Japanese verbs (お入りください), ご to Sino-Japanese verbal nouns (ご利用ください). Not used with する-verbs that don't form natural ご〜 compounds. More formal than Vてください but less common in casual conversation.

Expresses the speaker's request for permission or opportunity to do something. The causative form 〜(さ)せる means 'let/make someone do', and with ください it becomes 'please let me do'. Used when asking for a chance, a turn, or to be allowed to do something. Softer alternatives: 〜(さ)せてもらえますか / 〜(さ)せていただけませんか.

Gives advice or a recommendation based on the speaker's judgment — stronger than a mere suggestion, but not as forceful as なければならない. The past-tense た form before ほう comes from the idea of 'the path of having done X is better'. For the negative, use V-ない form. In casual speech, です can be dropped. ほうがいい implies a comparison: doing X is better than not doing X. Stronger than たらどうですか, which is a softer suggestion.

A gentle suggestion or recommendation. The たら conditional ('if you do X') + どうですか ('how is it?') combines to mean 'how about trying X?'. Softer and more indirect than たほうがいい — it leaves the decision entirely to the listener. In casual speech: たらどう？ or たら？. The negative form なかったらどうですか is logically possible but rare; use ないほうがいい instead.

Pattern for asking for advice or instructions. The question word specifies what the speaker is unsure about: 何 (what), どこ (where), どう (how), いつ (when), どれ (which), だれ (who). Both たらいい and ばいい work interchangeably in most contexts, though たらいい is slightly more colloquial. The answer typically uses たらいいですよ / ばいいですよ. Compare with たらどうですか (which gives advice rather than seeking it).

Three interchangeable forms for giving a positive recommendation. All mean roughly 'you should' or 'it would be good/beneficial to'. といい can sound slightly more like general advice; ばいい slightly more conditional ('if you do X, it'll be fine'). Differences are subtle and largely regional. The negative of all three is ないほうがいい (not 〜ないといい). The suggestiveness is lighter than たほうがいい and far lighter than なければならない.

Used to report a command, request, advice, or instruction given by someone. 〜ように softens the directive compared to quoting a direct imperative. The と is optional but common in written Japanese. Common verbs after: 言う (say/tell), 頼む (ask/request), 注意する (warn), 伝える (convey), お願いする (request politely). This pattern can also be used for hopes/prayers: 〜ように願う, 〜ように祈る.

Reports a direct command or prohibition that was actually spoken. Unlike 〜ように言います (which softens the command), this pattern preserves the raw imperative/prohibitive form inside the quote. This makes the reported speech sound more forceful or strict. Often used when quoting parents, teachers, or authority figures. The quotative と is mandatory here. Can also be used with the polite imperative 〜なさいと.

A nuanced system for politely requesting permission or a favor. The core structure is: causative (let me do) + receiving verb (you grant me). The politeness ladder from most casual to most formal: くれ(る)か → もらえるか → もらえますか → いただけますか → いただけませんか (negative question = most polite). いただけませんか is the most deferential and is the safest business-level form. The subject of the causative is the speaker; the benefactor is the listener (marked by に).

Used in written rules, regulations, instructions, and official notices. Creates a formal, impersonal command tone. The affirmative 〜こと means 'one must do X' (e.g., ゴミは持ち帰ること = 'You must take your trash home'). The negative 〜ないこと means 'one must not do X' (e.g., ここで飲食しないこと = 'No eating or drinking here'). Found on signs, in contracts, in school/company rules, and in instruction manuals. In spoken Japanese, this sounds stiff and authoritative — avoid in conversation.

Reassures the listener that an action is unnecessary. Stronger in tone than 〜なくてもいい — it actively contradicts a perceived or assumed obligation. The speaker is saying 'There is no reason for you to worry / rush / apologize'. Often used to comfort or to push back on excessive caution. Can also be used about the speaker: 私が行くことはない = 'There's no need for me to go'. The past form 〜ことはなかった expresses that something turned out to have been unnecessary in hindsight.

Also appears inJudgment & Evaluation·Judgment & Evaluation·Obligation, Permission & Advice·Obligation, Permission & Advice

Expresses a strong moral or social conviction about what one ought to do or not do. べき is not about practical necessity (that's なければならない) but about principle, ethics, or common-sense obligation. It implies 'as a matter of course, any right-thinking person would do/not do this'. The negative is べきではない (not 〜ないべき). The past form べきだった / べきではなかった expresses past regret ('should have / shouldn't have'). Using べき toward a superior can sound presumptuous — softeners like 〜ほうがいい or 〜たほうがいい are often safer.

The advisory ものだ expresses a general principle about how people ought to behave or how things naturally are. It sounds like folk wisdom or a moral truism — 'People should...', 'It's only natural to...'. Stronger and more universal than べき, which expresses personal conviction. ものではない is the negative ('one should not'). Do not confuse with the exclamatory ものだ (heartfelt observation), the recollective 〜たものだ (past habit), or the wish-intensifying 〜たいものだ. The context and verb form disambiguate: advisory uses dictionary form; recollective uses past form.

A formal, somewhat rhetorical appeal inviting others to join in a collective action. Often used in speeches, declarations, and written appeals. The tone is elevated and stirring — similar to 'Let us rise up and...' in English. ようではないか is the formal version; ようじゃないか is slightly less formal. The speaker is attempting to rally, inspire, or mobilize the audience. The rhetorical question form adds emphasis: 'Is it not the case that we should ~?' implying the answer is obviously 'yes'.

Gives direct, often paternalistic advice or admonition. The speaker tells the listener what is important or essential to do. Stronger and more personal than たほうがいい. Often implies 'if you want to succeed / improve / avoid trouble, the key is to...'. The negative 〜ないことだ means 'the important thing is to NOT do V'. Do not confuse with the exclamatory 〜ことだ (emotional reaction to a fact) which is used with なんと / なんという. The advisory ことだ uses plain verb without なんと.

A formal expression granting permission or stating that something is acceptable without causing any obstacle or problem. Commonly used in official, business, and legal contexts. さしつかえる means 'to be an obstacle/hindrance', so さしつかえない means 'there is no obstacle'. Often used to soften a directive or to give conditional leeway. Strongly conveys 'it would be entirely acceptable if...'. The negative form is ~なくてもさしつかえない. More formal than 〜てもいい.

Archaic prohibitive forms found in formal written language, old proverbs, legal documents, and set phrases. べからず means 'must not' and is the classical equivalent of 〜てはいけない. べからざる is the attributive form used before nouns, meaning 'someone/something that must not (be done)'. Both are highly literary and almost never used in modern conversation. べからざる人物 = 'a person one cannot afford to ignore / an indispensable person' (literally 'a person who must not be absent'). The modern equivalent is 〜べきではない.