3 Matching Annotations
- Mar 2018
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use ‘本を貸していただけませんでしょうか’ to make it even politer.
book PRT-OBJ lend/give-TE_FORM it-is-acceptable-NEG COPULA-SUGGESTIVE PRT-INTERROGATIVE. "Is it not acceptable to give me your book?"
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‘本を貸してくださいませんか’ (Can’t you lend me your book?)
(your) book PRT-OBJ give-TE_FRM please-NEG (cannot) PRT-INTEROG (?). "Can't you give/lend me your book?"
Using くださいません is the negative of ください which, when coupled with か makes a polite order in the form of a question: instead of "Please give me your book," it is "Can't you lend me your book?"
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By asking questions, the listeners feel that they have a choice to say no and thus are not offended by your request. In Japanese, you should also ask questions when you ask for a favor.
When you ask a question, you give the other person(s) the choice to say "Yes" or "No." This is much more polite than any order using 下さい.
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