聞いてください
kiitekudasai
In Japanese, "please listen" is expressed as 聞いてください (kiitekudasai).
The phrase 聞いてください is used to make a polite request for someone to pay attention to what is being said or played.
Which one should you use?
While 聞いてください is a polite request, 聞いて is used with friends or subordinates. For a more formal or softer request, especially toward superiors, you can use 聞いていただけますか. お聞きください is also available as a more respectful way to express this request than 聞いてください.
How do you pronounce it?
kiitekudasai
Did you know?
- While the standard 聞いてください uses the kanji 聞, musicians often switch to the kanji 聴 for the same phrase. This subtle spelling change tells the audience that the performer is asking for a deep, soulful appreciation of the music rather than just hearing noise.
- In a casual setting, shouting 聞いて! is often a social signal that juicy gossip or a scandalous secret is about to be revealed. It acts less like a request for attention and more like a way to say 'get ready for this drama'.
- In Japanese, the word 聞く used in 聞いてください can also mean 'to ask', meaning the phrase could be interpreted as 'please ask (me)' depending on the situation.
Examples in context
- 聞いてください。Please listen.This sentence is useful for the basic phrase 聞いてください.Tatoeba #8576118 by small_snow, translation #2111572 by CK
- よく聞いてください。Please listen carefully.This sentence shows how to use the phrase with the adverb 'carefully'.Tatoeba #9211244 by bunbuku, translation #277657 by CK
- 皆さん聞いてください。Everybody, please listen.This sentence demonstrates addressing a group of people with the phrase.Tatoeba #10901612 by small_snow, translation #12222372 by gmyoh64dx
- お客様のご要望をお聞きください。Please listen to the customer's request.
- コンサートに行くつもりだから、話を聞いてよ。I'm planning to go to the concert, so please listen to what I have to say.
- 明日の計画を聞いてくれ。Could you listen to my plans for tomorrow?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui is showing Hiro a song she wrote.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、私の歌を聞いてください。Hiro-kun, watashi no uta o kiite kudasai.Hiro, please listen to my song.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいよ。楽しみにしてるね。Ii yo. Tanoshimi ni shiteru ne.Sure. I'm looking forward to it.
- 結衣 Yuiちょっと恥ずかしいけど、聞いてください。Chotto hazukashii kedo, kiite kudasai.I'm a bit embarrassed, but please listen.
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫だよ。ゆっくり歌ってね。Daijobu dayo. Yukkurí utatte ne.It's okay. Take your time singing.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
