How to Say “Could You Please” in Japanese | Using V-te + itadakemasen ka（〜ていただけませんか）

level2 (N4)

Introduction

Want to politely ask someone to do something in Japanese?

  • “Could you close the window?”
  • “Could you please write your name here?”
  • “Could you speak more slowly, please?”

To make respectful requests, use this structure:

V て-form + いただけませんか
= Could you please ~ ?

This is a more formal version of “〜てください” and is perfect for situations where extra politeness is needed — at work, in customer service, or with strangers.

1. Grammar Structure

Use the て-form of a verb, followed by いただけませんか to make a polite request.

Verbて-formFull Phrase
しめる (to close)しめてしめていただけませんか。
かく (to write)かいてかいていただけませんか。
まつ (to wait)まってまっていただけませんか。
  • Verb (te-form) : The te-form of the verb is used to connect the verb to “いただけませんか”.
  • いただけませんか : This is a polite expression that translates to “Could you please” or “Would you mind.”

📝 This is very similar to 〜てください, but adds a higher level of respect and is common in formal speech.

📝 Still not confident in te-forms? Review Lesson 6 of Level 1!

2. Example Sentences

  • ちょっと手伝てつだっていただけませんか。= Could you please help me for a moment?
  • ここに名前なまえを書かいていただけませんか。= Could you please write your name here?
  • もう一度いちど 説明せつめいしていただけませんか。= Could you explain that one more time?
  • ゆっくり話はなしていただけませんか。= Could you please speak slowly?

3. Comparison: 〜てください vs. 〜ていただけませんか

ExpressionLevel of PolitenessCommon Use
〜てくださいPoliteFormal, but still common in everyday settings
〜ていただけませんかVery politeHonorific, best for customers, superiors, etc.

While both forms are respectful, いただけませんか is more indirect and humble — ideal in customer service, business, or when speaking to someone of higher status.

4. Practice Time!

Convert these into polite requests using 〜ていただけませんか:

EnglishJapanese
Could you please call me?電話でんわしていただけませんか。
Could you please close the door?ドアをしめていただけませんか。
Could you please read this document?この書類しょるいを読よんでいただけませんか。

5. FAQ

Q
What are the most common and standard ways to say “Could you please” in Japanese?
A

The most standard and widely used polite ways to say “Could you please do ~” are typically:

  • V-て いただけませんか
  • V-て いただけませんでしょうか (Slightly more polite than いただけませんか)
  • V-て いただけないでしょうか (Slightly more polite than いただけませんか)

These forms use the て-form of the main verb followed by a polite, often negative potential form of the verb いただく (itadaku).

Q
What is the difference in politeness and nuance between 〜てください, 〜てくださいませんか, and 〜ていただけませんか / 〜ていただけないでしょうか？
A

These patterns represent increasing levels of politeness and indirectness:

  • 〜てください: Standard polite request. Suitable for colleagues, acquaintances, or in general polite conversation. It’s a relatively direct “Please do ~.”
  • 〜てくださいませんか: More polite than 〜てください. It adds a layer of indirectness (“Won’t you please do ~?”). It’s less common than the いただく forms but can be used in formal contexts.
  • 〜ていただけませんか / 〜ていただけないでしょうか: The most common and standard polite way to say “Could you please.” They are very indirect (“Could I receive the favor of you doing ~?” or “Would it be possible for me to receive the favor of you doing ~?”), making them highly respectful and suitable for superiors, clients, or formal settings.
Q
Why is the verb 「いただく」(itadaku) used in the structure 「〜ていただけませんか」? What does it mean here?
A

「いただく」 is the humble/respectful form of the verb 「もらう」(morau), which means “to receive.” In this structure, 「〜ていただく」 means “to receive the favor of someone doing [Verb] for me.” By using the potential negative form (いただけませんか?), you are politely and indirectly asking “Could I receive the favor of you doing [Verb]?” This humble phrasing makes the request very polite.

Q
How do I respond appropriately when someone asks me to do something using one of these polite request forms?
A
  • はい、分かりました。(Hai, wakarimashita.) = Yes, I understand/got it.
  • はい、少々お待ちください。(Hai, shoushou omachi kudasai.) = Yes, please wait a moment.
  • すぐやります。(Sugu yarimasu.) = I’ll do it right away.
  • かしこまりました。(Kashikomarimashita.) = Certainly. (Very polite/humble response)
  • 承知いたしました。(Shouchi itashimashita.) = Understood. (Very polite/formal response)

If you cannot fulfill the request, you would politely apologize and explain why.
e.g., すみません、今はちょっと忙しいんです。(Sumimasen, ima wa chotto isogashiin desu) = I’m sorry, I’m a little busy right now.

6. Conclusion

Now you can:

  • Use 〜ていただけませんか for formal and polite requests
  • Understand how it compares with 〜てください
  • Confidently ask someone to do something — even in professional or unfamiliar settings!

🎯 Practice: Write 3 polite requests using 〜ていただけませんか. Try using them in your daily conversations or with your Japanese teacher!

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