ゆっくり話してください Please speak slowly.

To make a request, use "[the TE-form of a verb] + kudasai." The TE-form is a conjugated verb that ends with "te" or "de." "Hanashite" is the TE-form of "hanasu" or "speak." Japanese verbs are categorized into three groups. Conjugation of the TE-form varies by group.

How to make the TE-form:

With Group 1 verbs, if the dictionary form ends with "‐(w)u," "‐t(s)u," or "-ru," change the ending to "-tte." For those ending with "-bu" or "-mu," change the ending to "-nde." Verbs that end with "-ku" or "-gu," are changed to "-ite" or "-ide." "Iku" meaning "to go" is an exception. Its ending becomes "itte." For verbs ending with "-su," change the "-su" to "-shite."

With Group 2 verbs, change the ending of the dictionary form from "-ru" to "-te."

As for Group 3's irregular verbs, "kuru" meaning "to come" becomes "kite." "Suru" meaning "to do" becomes "shite."

Try requesting

1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?

I’m sorry. Please speak in English.

speak in English

英語で言う（→言って）

Eego de iu (→itte)

2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

I’m sorry. Please XXX.

すみません。～てください。

Sumimasen. ～te kudasai.

write in the alphabet

ローマ字で書く（→書いて）

Roomaji de kaku (→kaite)

3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

I’m sorry. Please XXX.

すみません。～てください。

Sumimasen. ～te kudasai.

teach how to read

読み方を教える（→教えて）

yomikata o oshieru (→oshiete)

Use this when you can't understand what the speaker said to you. Putting "yoku" before "wakarimasen" or "don't understand" makes it more polite.

Watashi (I/me)