What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "shower (object) bathe and come". It consists of the object "shower" followed by the verb abiru (to bathe) and kuru (to come).
Which one should you use?
While the default form シャワーを浴びてきて is a casual instruction to go and come back, other variations change the tone: シャワーを浴びて is a simple, straightforward way to say "go take a shower" among friends or family and シャワーを浴びてよ provides a slightly stronger tone, often used among close friends or when instructing someone of the same age or lower status.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
シャワーを浴びてきて is informal and typically used by people of equal or higher status, such as a parent to a child or between close friends. For a polite request, you can use シャワーを浴びてください or シャワーを浴びてきてください, which translates to "please take a shower" or "please go take a shower".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase シャワーを浴びてきて uses the te-form of the verb abiru (to bathe) combined with kite (the te-form of kuru, meaning to come). This construction expresses a sequence of actions where the person performs the task and then returns.
How do you pronounce it?
shawā o abite kite
Did you know?
- If you were to use the verb sentaku (to wash) instead of abiru, you would accidentally tell someone to wash their clothes rather than their body.
- In Japan, the shower is often used only for rinsing off after a soak in a bathtub. Because of this, シャワーを浴びる may refer to a quick rinse rather than a full cleaning process.
- The verb abiru used in this phrase originally meant 'to bask in' or 'to be drenched by'. This is why it is used for showers and rain, but not for soaking in a bath.
Examples in context
- 田中さん、シャワーを浴びてください。Tanaka-san, please take a shower.
- さっさとシャワーを浴びてきて。Sassato shawaa o abite kite.Go take a shower quickly.
- 汗をかいたから、シャワーを浴びてきて。Ase o kaita kara, shawaa o abite kite.You're sweaty, so go take a shower.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are at home after working out together.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、すごく汗をかいているよ。Misaki, sugoku ase o kaite iru yo.Misaki, you are sweating a lot.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に、体がベタベタする。Hontou ni, karada ga betabeta suru.Really, my body feels sticky.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、先にシャワーを浴びてきて。Jaa, saki ni shawaa o abite kite.Then, go take a shower first.
- 美咲 Misakiわかった、すぐ準備するね。Wakatta, sugu junbi suru ne.Okay, I'll get ready right away.
