どれどれ
doredore
In Japanese, "let me see" can be expressed as どれどれ (doredore).
The phrase どれどれ is used when you are physically moving closer to an object or a person to examine something they are holding or showing you. It expresses a desire to inspect or look at something closely.
Which one should you use?
While どれどれ is used when approaching something to inspect it, other forms are used to request permission. 見せて is a straightforward way to ask someone to show you something, while 見させてください and 見せていただけますか are used to politely ask for permission to look at something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
どれどれ is an informal expression often used when acting in a slightly playful or curious manner. For formal situations, you can use 見させてください to politely ask to see something or 見せていただけますか, which is a respectful way to say "let me see" that implies gratitude. In informal contexts, you can simply use 見せて to ask someone to show you something.
How do you pronounce it?
doredore
Did you know?
- While it translates to 'let me see', using どれどれ can make you sound like a friendly, slightly eccentric character in an anime or a person of higher status checking on a child's work.
- If you use どれどれ with a stranger or a superior, it may come across as patronizing or overly familiar, as if you are treating them like a child or a pet.
- Because どれどれ is so rhythmic, it is often used by storytellers or narrators in Japanese children's books to build suspense before revealing a surprise.
Examples in context
- どれどれ。Let me see.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase どれどれ.Tatoeba #3488662 by arnab, translation #65316 by CK
- 「この書類を見させてください。」Please let me see these documents.
- 「この美しい絵を見せていただけますか。」Could you please show me this beautiful painting?
- 「その写真見せて。」Show me that photo.
- 「この映画を見せてくれる？」Can you show me this movie?
- どれどれ、怪我はない？Dore dore, kega wa nai?Let me see, are you hurt?
- どれどれ、中を見せて。Dore dore, naka o misete.Let me see, show me inside.
Example conversation
Misaki is looking at a drawing Kenta made.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さん、絵を描きました。Misaki-san, e o kakimashita.Misaki, I drew a picture.
- 美咲 Misakiどれどれ。上手ですね！Dore dore. Jouzu desu ne!Let me see. You're good at this!
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 美咲 Misakiどこで習ったんですか？Doko de naratta n desu ka?Where did you learn to draw?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
