落ち着いて
ochitsuite
To say 'stay calm' in Japanese, you use 落ち着いて (ochitsuite).
This phrase is a request or command used to tell someone to control their emotions and remain peaceful. In casual settings, you can also use 大丈夫 (meaning 'okay' or 'alright') to reassure someone in a friendly way.
Which one should you use?
While 落ち着いて is a common way to express the idea, 冷静を保ってください is a more formal way to say 'stay calm'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
落ち着いて is used in a common, casual setting. For a more polite version suitable for strangers or professional settings, use 落ち着いてください. In contrast, the imperative form 落ち着け is a blunt command that can sound harsh or aggressive, typically used by men or in high-stress situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the request more polite by adding ください (kudasai) to the end, resulting in 落ち着いてください (please stay calm).
How do you pronounce it?
ochitsuite
Did you know?
- The verb in 落ち着いて comes from 置く, meaning 'to put' or 'to place'. The phrase literally describes the act of 'setting' or 'placing' your heart or mind back down in a stable position.
- Using 落ち着いて to a superior might actually be seen as condescending, as you are essentially telling them how to manage their feelings.
- While 落ち着いて is a request for calm, the related word 落ち着いた is frequently used to describe a 'mature' or 'sophisticated' person, regardless of their current emotional state.
Examples in context
- 落ち着いて。Stay calm.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 落ち着いて.Tatoeba #78528 by mookeee, translation #788304 by hrin
- もう少し落ち着いてください。Mou sukoshi ochitsuite kudasai.Please stay a little more calm.
- まずは落ち着いて話そう。Mazu wa ochitsuite hanasou.First, let's stay calm and talk.
Example conversation
Ren is panicking because he lost his wallet in a busy station.
- 蓮 Ren財布がない！どうしよう！Saifu ga nai! Dou shiyou!My wallet is gone! What should I do!
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、落ち着いて。Ren-kun, ochitsuite.Ren, stay calm.
- 蓮 Renでも、すごく困るんだ。Demo, sugoku komaru nda.But, I'm in real trouble.
- 美咲 Misaki一緒に探しましょう。Issho ni sagashimashou.Let's look for it together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
