優しくして
yasashiku shite
The English phrase "be nice" is expressed in Japanese as 優しくして (yasashiku shite).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 優しく (yasashiku) is the adverbial form meaning "kindly" or "gently".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 優しくして is a casual way to make a request or imperative. If you want to say "please be polite" or "please be nice" in a formal context, you can also use 丁寧にしてください. In very informal situations, you might use いい人でいてよ to mean "be a good person" or "be nice".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 優しくして uses the te-form to function as a casual imperative or a request.
How do you pronounce it?
yasashiku shite
Did you know?
- In Japanese, 優しい (yasashii) is a homonym for another word meaning 'easy'. Although they are written with different characters, they sound identical in conversation.
- Depending on the context, 優しくして (yasashiku shite) can be used as a euphemism to ask someone to be physically gentle during an activity.
- While 優しくして is a request to be kind, it is often used in romantic contexts to ask a partner for more affection or tenderness.
Examples in context
- 優しくしてあげなさい。Be nice.This sentence shows how to use the form 優しくして to give a command to be nice.Tatoeba #2038458 by bunbuku, translation #1916314 by CK
- 彼女に優しくしてあげなさいよ。Be nice to her.This sentence shows how to use the form 優しくして to tell someone to be nice to a specific person.Tatoeba #94772 by arnab, translation #308934 by CK
- 一生のお願い。彼に優しくしてあげて。For goodness' sake, please be nice to him.This sentence shows how to use the form 優しくして when making a heartfelt plea to be nice to someone.Tatoeba #10320849 by small_snow, translation #240180 by CH
- 上司、私に対して優しくしてくださいBoss, please be nice to me.
Example conversation
Misaki is asking Hiroto to be kind to her younger brother.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、もっと優しくして。Hiroto-kun, motto yasashiku shite.Hiroto, be nicer.
- 大翔 Hirotoえっ、僕、そんなつもりじゃ……。Ett, boku, sonna tsumori ja….Eh, I didn't mean to…
- 美咲 Misaki弟が怖がってるよ。Otouto ga kowagatteru yo.My brother is scared.
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、これからは優しくするよ。Gomen, kore kara wa yasashiku suru yo.Sorry, I will be nice from now on.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
