水をください
mizu o kudasai
The English phrase "give me water" is translated into Japanese as 水をください (mizu o kudasai).
This phrase is a polite request used to ask someone to provide you with water.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 水 (mizu), meaning water. The particle を (o), which marks water as the direct object. And ください (kudasai), which is the polite imperative form of the verb meaning to give or bestow.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this request depending on the level of politeness. 水をください and お水を下さい are formal ways to ask for water. For a more humble and polite way to ask, such as in a restaurant or a formal setting, you can use お水をいただけますか. If you are speaking with friends or family, you can use the informal 水をくれる？ or the more casual and blunt 水ちょうだい.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 水をください, the particle を is used because 水 is the object being given.
How do you pronounce it?
mizu o kudasai
Did you know?
- While 水をください asks for water, if you want specifically hot water for tea or cooking, you must use the word お湯 (oyu) instead of 水.
- The word 水 is a pictograph that originally evolved from a drawing of flowing water in ancient Chinese characters.
- In many Japanese restaurants, you do not even need to say 水をください because staff will often proactively bring a pitcher of water to your table as part of their service.
Examples in context
- 水をください。mizu o kudasai.Please give me water.
- すみません、水をください。sumimasen, mizu o kudasai.Excuse me, please give me water.
- 喉が渇いたので、水をください。nodo ga kawaita node, mizu o kudasai.I am thirsty, so please give me water.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are at a restaurant.
- 陽太 Yota店員さん、水をください。tenin-san, mizu o kudasai.Server, please give me some water.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、少々お待ちください。hai, shōshō omachi kudasai.Yes, please wait a moment.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 結衣 Yuiどうぞ、お待たせしました。dōzo, omatase shimashita.Here you go, sorry to keep you waiting.
