結婚してください
kekkon shite kudasai
The English phrase "please marry me" is translated into Japanese as 結婚してください (kekkon shite kudasai).
結婚してください is a direct and standard way to propose marriage in Japanese. It serves as a sincere or formal request. You can also use the more descriptive expression 一緒に人生を歩みませんか, which translates to "Won't you walk through life with me?"
What does it mean word for word?
The component してください is the polite request form of the verb meaning "to do".
Which one should you use?
While 結婚してください is a standard way to propose, you can use the more direct and intimate 結婚して by dropping the ください to make the proposal much more casual. For a different nuance, the phrase 結婚してくれないか translates to "Would you marry me?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
結婚してください is a polite and direct proposal. For a more casual and intimate setting, you might use the shortened form 結婚して. The phrase 私と結婚してください is also a direct and polite way to propose, specifically meaning "Please marry me".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form してください (shite kudasai) functions as a polite way to say "please do".
How do you pronounce it?
kekkon shite kudasai
Did you know?
- Historically, marriage proposals in Japan were rarely verbal requests like 結婚してください and were instead handled through a formal intermediary called a 仲人 (nakado) who negotiated between families.
- The word 結婚 (kekkon) contains the character 結 (ketsu), which means 'to tie' or 'to bind', reflecting the idea of tying a knot between two people or families.
- Modern Japanese media often uses the English loanword 'propose' (プロポーズ, puropōzu) as a noun to describe the act of asking for marriage, rather than just using the Japanese verb.
Examples in context
- ずっと一緒にいたい。結婚してください。Zutto issho ni itai. Kekkon shite kudasai.I want to be with you forever. Please marry me.
- 一生大切にします。結婚してください。Isshō taisetsu ni shimasu. Kekkon shite kudasai.I will cherish you for the rest of my life. Please marry me.
- 僕と結婚してください。Boku to kekkon shite kudasai.Please marry me.
Example conversation
Youta proposes to Yui at a beautiful park.
- 結衣 Yui結衣さん、結婚してください。Yui-san, kekkon shite kudasai.Yui, please marry me.
- 陽太 Yotaえっ、本当にいいの？E, hontou ni ii no?What, are you serious?
- 結衣 Yuiもちろんだよ。大好きだから。Mochiron da yo. Daisuki dakara.Of course. Because I love you.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、よろしくお願いします！Hai, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!Yes, I would love to!
