いい子にしてね
ii ko ni shite ne
The English phrase "be a good boy" is translated into Japanese as いい子にしてね (ii ko ni shite ne).
This phrase is a request for a child to behave well and be obedient. Although the English phrase specifies "boy," the Japanese term ko (child) is gender-neutral, meaning these Japanese expressions can be used for both boys and girls.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, いい子にしてね means 'do (be) in the state of a good child'.
Which one should you use?
While いい子にしてね is a gentle request, the form いい子になれよ translates to "Become a good child" and is more informal. For a more formal command, you can use 良い子になりなさい, which means "Become a good child."
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the phrase to change the tone or emphasis. Removing the final particle ne to create いい子にして turns the gentle request into a direct command. To emphasize an ongoing state of behaving well over a period of time, use the continuous form いい子にしていてね.
How do you pronounce it?
ii ko ni shite ne
Did you know?
- While いい子にしてね is used for children, adults sometimes use いい子 sarcastically to describe a person who is overly naive or too obedient to the point of being gullible.
- The word 子 (child) can be used in Japanese to describe animals, meaning a parent might say いい子にしてね to a pet during a vet visit.
- Japanese culture often emphasizes the group over the individual, so いい子 implies not just obedience to a parent, but the ability to read the air and not disturb others.
Examples in context
- お留守番はいい子にしてね。Orusuban wa ii ko ni shite ne.Be a good boy while I'm out.
- お医者さんの前ではいい子にしてね。Oishasan no mae de wa ii ko ni shite ne.Be a good boy in front of the doctor.
- パパが帰るまで、いい子にしてね。Papa ga kaeru made, ii ko ni shite ne.Be a good boy until Papa comes home.
Example conversation
A father is leaving his daughter with a babysitter.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵、いい子にしてね。Himari, ii ko ni shite ne.Himari, be a good girl.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、わかったよ！Un, wakatta yo!Yeah, I got it!
- 蓮 Renおもちゃでたくさん遊んでね。Omocha de takusan asonde ne.Have lots of fun with your toys.
- 陽葵 Himariパパ、早く帰ってきてね。Papa, hayaku kaette kite ne.Daddy, come home soon.
