Beginner Japanese · Lesson 2
Simple Japanese Classroom Requests
Understand and use three bounded classroom requests and give a simple response.
A familiar polite opening
Get attention, then follow one short request
You already know すみません. In a lesson, it can get the teacher’s attention before a request. Now read the request itself and check the separate Kana line before looking at the English.
A teacher’s request
Reading: みてください。
Three classroom actions
Vocabulary lists label each verb with its dictionary, or lookup, form. The classroom requests below are complete phrases to learn as they are; you do not need to make one form from the other yet.
New word
みる
to look; to see
New word
きく
to listen; to hear
New word
よむ
to read
Useful whole pattern
Listen for the repeated polite ending
～てください
The requests to look, listen, and read all share the same polite ending. For this first encounter, use each complete request as a classroom expression.
You do not need to make this verb form yet. A later lesson explains the verb groups and changes behind it; here, learn each request as a whole.
Example
Reading: きいてください。
Example
Reading: よんでください。
Keep the action clear
The beginning changes with the action. 見てください asks you to look, 聞いてください asks you to listen, and読んでください asks you to read. Treat the three as complete expressions now.
Check your recall
Choose the action
Try each prompt before opening the answer.
見てください。Which action is the teacher asking for?
Reveal the requested action
Look.
The teacher wants you to listen. Which complete request fits?
Reveal the listening request
聞いてください。Please listen.
読んでください。Read the Japanese before checking the meaning.
Reveal the meaning
Please read.
Give a short response
These responses are useful in this bounded classroom exchange. They do not map perfectly to English yes and no in every possible situation.
New word
はい
yes
A simple affirmative response in this classroom context.
New word
いいえ
no
A simple negative response in this classroom context.
New word
わかる
to understand
Its polite form appears in this lesson’s response.
Say that you understand
Vocabulary lists show 分かる, the form used to look up this verb. In this classroom response, use the polite 分かります. Keep the response together here; a later lesson explains how verb forms work.
A simple response
Reading: はい、わかります。
One more whole polite expression
Keep this polite expression together. You do not need its deeper word formation to use it in a simple request context.
New word
おねがいします
please; I ask this of you
Learn this as one useful polite expression.
Polite expression
Reading: おねがいします。
Two words coming back
Try to recall each expression from the greetings lesson before checking the reminder.
Review
すみません
excuse me; sorry
Bring this back when you need to get someone’s attention.
Review
ありがとうございます
thank you
Bring this back after someone helps you.
Check your recall
Put the short exchange together
Try each prompt before opening the answer.
You need the teacher’s attention before asking for help. Which familiar expression can begin?
Reveal the polite opener
すみません。Use this to get attention politely.
The teacher asks you to read. Retrieve the complete request.
Reveal the reading request
読んでください。Please read.
You understand. Give the short polite response from this lesson.
Reveal the response
はい、分かります。Yes, I understand.
Keep the whole expressions
- 見てください・聞いてください・読んでください are three useful requests.
- はい、分かります gives one simple affirmative response.
- The productive て-form rule remains for a later lesson.