動いてください
ugoite kudasai
In Japanese, "please move" is said as 動いてください (ugoite kudasai).
This phrase is used to request that someone change their physical position or start moving, but it can sound like a command if the context is not clearly a polite request.
Which one should you use?
While 動いてください asks someone to move their body or an object, どいてください specifically asks someone to move out of your way or step aside.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you drop the ください and use only 動いて, it becomes an informal command or request used among friends or to subordinates.
How do you pronounce it?
ugoite kudasai
Did you know?
- If you want to be extremely polite when asking someone to move, Japanese speakers often avoid the word 'move' entirely and instead use a phrase that translates to 'Excuse me, I'm sorry'.
- The verb 動く can also describe a person's heart being 'moved' by emotion. Saying your heart 動いた means you were deeply touched or inspired by something.
- While 動いてください is a literal request for movement, the word 動く is also used in Japanese to describe a machine or a clock that is 'working'. To say a computer is 'frozen' is to say it is not 動く.
Examples in context
- もう少し左に動いてください。Mou sukoshi hidari ni ugoite kudasai.Please move a little more to the left.
- 危ないので、動いてください。Abunai node, ugoite kudasai.Please move, because it is dangerous.
- そこから動いてください。Soko kara ugoite kudasai.Please move away from there.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are taking a photo together.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、もう少し右に動いてください。Himari, mou sukoshi migi ni ugoite kudasai.Himari, please move a little more to the right.
- 陽葵 Himariこれでいいかな？Kore de ii kana?Is this okay?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、ばっちりです。Un, bacchiri desu.Yes, it is perfect.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、撮ってね。Jaa, totte ne.Okay, take the photo.
