Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Let's take a closer look at how Ben asks for an item without knowing its name.
Do you remember how Ben says,
"That, please?"
それを ください。(Sore o kudasai.)
This standard way of asking for something follows a simple pattern.
First is それ (sore), "that." それ. それ.
Next is を (o), the object-marking particle. を. を.
Think of を as a marker for the thing receiving the action. In this sentence, it marks それ, "that," as the object being requested.
Last is ください (kudasai), "please." ください. ください.
All together, it's それを ください, meaning, "That, please."
それを ください。
Do you remember how the clerk says,
"Yes, here you are."
はい、どうぞ。(Hai, dōzo.)
First is はい (hai), "Yes." はい. はい.
After this is どうぞ (dōzo), meaning "Here you are" in this context, as the shop clerk is handing something to Ben. どうぞ. どうぞ.
どうぞ literally translates as "Please" or "Kindly." The meaning, however, is derived from the context of the situation or conversation. When どうぞ is said accompanying the action of handing someone something, it translates as "Here you are." どうぞ.
All together, it's はい、どうぞ。 "Yes, here you are."
はい、どうぞ。(Hai, dōzo.)
The pattern is
{ITEM} を ください。(o kudasai.)
"{ITEM} , please."
{ITEM} を ください。
To use this pattern, simply replace the {ITEM} placeholder with the thing you want to ask for.
Imagine you’d like some water. みず (mizu). み-ず. みず.
Say
"Water, please."
Ready?
みずを ください。(Mizu o kudasai.)
"Water, please."
みずを ください。
In Japanese, the following three words refer to a thing depending on the distance from the speaker:
For things located within arm's distance, これ (kore), "this."
こ-れ.
これ.
For things located just out of arm’s distance, それ (sore), "that."
それ.
And finally, for things located a bit further, あれ (are), "that (over there)."
あ-れ.
あれ.

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