優しくして
yasashikushite
To say "be kind" in Japanese, you use 優しくして (yasashikushite).
While the English phrase "be kind" is often a general moral instruction, 優しくして is frequently used as a direct request for the listener to act kindly toward a specific person, often the speaker themselves.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverbial form of the adjective yasashii (kind/gentle) and the te-form of the verb suru (to do).
Which one should you use?
The phrase 優しくして is used when requesting that someone be kind to a specific person or to the speaker. Other variations include Yasashii hito ni natte kudasai (優しい人になってください), which means "Please become a kind person" and Yasashiku shite yo (優しくしてよ), which is an informal way to say "Be kind to me".
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 優しくして is a casual request. To make the request polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors, add kudasai to the end to get 優しくしてください.
How do you pronounce it?
yasashikushite
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word yasashii can mean both 'kind' and 'easy' depending on the kanji used. While 優しい refers to a person's gentle nature, the homophone 易しい describes a task that is not difficult.
- While 優しくして asks for kindness, Japanese culture often emphasizes omoiyari, a specific type of altruistic kindness where one anticipates another's needs without being asked.
- In Japanese, the concept of kindness is often split between yasashii (gentle) and shinsetsu (polite and helpful), making 優しくして specifically a request for gentleness.
Examples in context
- 僕が君に優しくしようと思ったように、誰かに君が優しくされたなら、その人に優しさを返すのは当たり前だけど、それだけじゃなくて、君がその人にされたように、誰かに優しくしてあげなさい。僕はそれだけで十分だ。If someone did something kind to you, the way I did for you, you have to be kind back. But not only that, you have to do something kind, in the same way, to someone else. That would be enough for me to be fulfilled.This sentence illustrates how to express the idea of returning kindness to others and being kind to people in general using 優しくして.Tatoeba #11184463 by small_snow, translation #11184464 by DJ_Saidez
- Watashi ni shinsetsu ni shite kudasai (私に親切にしてください)Please be kind to me.
- Boku ni yasashiku shite yo (僕に優しくしてよ)Be kind to me.
- もっと優しくして。Motto yasashiku shite.Be kinder.
- 弟に優しくしてあげてね。Otouto ni yasashiku shite agete ne.Please be kind to your little brother.
Example conversation
A sister is giving advice to her brother about how to treat his friend.
- 美咲 Misaki友達に優しくしてあげてね。Tomodachi ni yasashiku shite agete ne.Please be kind to your friend.
- 大翔 Hiroto分かったよ、美咲姉さん。Wakatta yo, Misaki nee-san.I understand, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki優しくするのは大切だよ。Yasashiku suru no wa taisetsu da yo.Being kind is important.
- 大翔 Hiroto努力するよ。Doryoku suru yo.I will try.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
