Which one should you use?
While 寝てください is a standard polite request, other forms exist depending on the level of respect and authority. For example, お休みになってください is a very polite way to ask someone to go to sleep, whereas お休みください is a polite expression that is slightly less formal. If you want to be even more humble and formal, you can use お休みになっていただけますか？ On the other end of the spectrum, the form 寝なさい acts as a command and is much more forceful than the polite versions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies significantly with different forms. 寝てください is polite, while the very polite お休みになってください or the humble and formal お休みになっていただけますか？ are used for higher levels of respect. お休みください is also polite but slightly less formal than the former. For casual situations with friends or family, you can drop the polite suffix to say just 寝て. Finally, 寝なさい is an authoritative command, typically used by parents toward children.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the polite request, the verb neru (to sleep) must be conjugated to its te-form nete to connect with kudasai.
How do you pronounce it?
nete kudasai
Did you know?
- The word yasumi found in the polite phrase oyasumi kudasai is the same word used for 'holiday' or 'day off'.
- In Japanese, the verb neru (to sleep) is also used to mean 'to lie down' in a physical sense. You might use it to ask someone to lie down on a sofa rather than to suggest they actually fall into a slumber.
- The concept of 'sleep' in Japanese culture is often tied to the word nemui, which describes the physical sensation of being sleepy. While neru is the action, expressing the state of feeling 'sleepy' is often a more natural way to signal a desire to go to bed.
Examples in context
- ちゃんと寝てねSleep well.
- 先生、明日授業がありますので、しっかり休んでください。Sensei, since there is a class tomorrow, please get a good night's sleep.
- もう遅いので、寝てください。mou osoi node, netekudasai.It's late, so please go to sleep.
- 体調が悪そうなので、早く寝てください。taichou ga warusou na node, hayaku netekudasai.You look unwell, so please go to sleep early.
- 明日も早いから、そろそろ寝てください。ashita mo hayai kara, sorosoro netekudasai.Tomorrow is early too, so please go to sleep soon.
Example conversation
Kenta is telling Misaki to rest because she looks tired.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんはとても疲れているようです。misaki-san wa totemo tsukarete iru you desu.Misaki, you look very tired.
- 美咲 Misaki少しだけ、もう少しだけ頑張ります。sukoshi dake, mou sukoshi dake ganbarimasu.Just a little bit, I'll try a little more.
- 健太 Kenta無理をしないで、早く寝てください。muri o shinaide, hayaku netekudasai.Don't overdo it, please go to sleep early.
- 美咲 Misakiわかりました。そうします。wakarimashita. sou shimasu.I understand. I will do that.
