What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase お水をください, the word ください literally means "please give me". The particle を serves as an object marker, marking 水 (water) as the direct object of the verb.
Which one should you use?
While お水をください is the standard polite version, you can use 水をいただけますか？ to say "May I have water?" or the even more polite 水をいただけますか？お願いします。 to say "May I have water? Please.". For a casual tone, you can use 水をもらえる？, which means "Can I get water?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a highly formal setting, use 水をいただけますか？ If you are speaking with friends or family, you can use the informal 水をもらえる？ or the very casual 水、ちょうだい, which means "water, give me". To make any request even more polite, you can add お願いします to the end.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle を is used to mark the object of the sentence, specifically identifying the water as the thing being given.
How do you pronounce it?
omizu o kudasai
Did you know?
- While 水 refers to plain water, if you want 'hot water' for tea or a baby bottle, you must use the specific term お湯 instead.
- If you are at a traditional Japanese restaurant, the 'water' you receive might actually be chilled green tea or barley tea, depending on the establishment's custom.
- The prefix お in お水 is an honorific used to show respect to the object, a common way to make even inanimate things sound more polite and elegant.
Examples in context
- お水をください。O-mizu o kudasai.Can I have water, please?
- 冷たいお水をください。Tsumetai o-mizu o kudasai.Can I have some cold water, please?
Example conversation
At a small cafe, Himari is ordering from Ren.
- 陽葵 Himariすみません、お水をください。Sumimasen, o-mizu o kudasai.Excuse me, can I have water, please?
- 蓮 Renはい、かしこまりました。Hai, kashikomarimashita.Yes, certainly.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 蓮 Renいえいえ。Iie iie.You're very welcome.
