付き合ってください
tsukiatte kudasai
In Japanese, "please go out with me" is said as 付き合ってください (tsukiatte kudasai).
This phrase is a specific request used during a kokuhaku (a confession of love) to transition from having a crush to entering an official romantic relationship. While the underlying verb can mean to hang out or accompany someone in a platonic way, when used in the context of a confession, it exclusively means to enter a romantic relationship.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb stem 付き合って comes from tsukiau, which literally means to keep company with someone or to go along with someone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a much more casual request often seen among peers or in anime and manga, you can drop the kudasai and simply say 付き合って. Another informal option is Issho ni tsukiatte kurenai?, which translates to "Won't you go out with me?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the -te form of the verb tsukiau (as 付き合って) to connect to kudasai to form a polite request.
How do you pronounce it?
tsukiatte kudasai
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using date shite kudasai to ask someone to go out with you romantically. tsukiau is the standard way to ask to start a relationship.
Did you know?
- The verb 付き合う can also describe associating with 'bad company'. This means the same word used for a romantic proposal can be used to warn someone about hanging out with the wrong crowd.
- In Japan, the request 付き合ってください acts as a binary switch. Unlike the gradual 'dating' phase in English, agreeing to this phrase usually means the couple is immediately and officially exclusive.
- The verb 付き合う can also be used in a workplace context to describe 'humoring' a coworker. For example, if you go to a boring happy hour just because your boss is going, you are 付き合って them.
Examples in context
- 僕と付き合ってください。Please go out with me.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 付き合ってください.Tatoeba #10741268 by bunbuku, translation #10741261 by CK
- 好きです。付き合ってください。I like you. Please go out with me.This sentence shows how to use 付き合ってください after expressing your feelings.Tatoeba #4153670 by tommy_san, translation #13572531 by CK
Example conversation
Ren confesses his feelings to Yui at a quiet park.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さん、ずっと前から好きでした。付き合ってください。Yui-san, zutto mae kara suki deshita. Tsukiatte kudasai.Yui, I have liked you for a long time. Please go out with me.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、本当ですか？びっくりしました。E', hontou desu ka? Bikkuri shimashita.Eh, really? I'm surprised.
- 蓮 Ren真剣に言っています。Shinkeni itte imasu.I am being serious.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、私もずっと好きでした。Hai, watashi mo zutto suki deshita.Yes, I have liked you for a long time too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
