教えて
oshiete
The phrase "teach me" in Japanese is 教えて (oshiete).
This phrase is used to request that someone provide information or explain how to perform a task. Because the underlying verb can mean both "to teach" and "to tell/inform", you can use it when you want to learn a new skill or when you are simply asking for a piece of information, such as a phone number or directions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 教えて is an informal way to say "teach me" and is used with friends or family. In more formal settings, you can use お教えください for "Please teach me" or 教えていただけませんか？ to say "could you please teach me?" Within informal speech, 教えてよ can be used to say "teach me, please".
How do you pronounce it?
oshiete
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese arts like tea ceremonies or martial arts, students often learn through 'stealing' the technique by watching, rather than asking 教えて.
- While 教えて can mean 'teach me', in a romantic context it is often used as a soft request for a partner to 'tell me' their true feelings or reveal a secret.
- When using 教えて in a business email, it is common to use the phrase ご教示ください instead, which is a highly formal version reserved for professional expertise.
Examples in context
- どうやるか教えて。Teach me how it's done.This sentence shows how to use 教えて to ask for instructions on how to do something.Tatoeba #201122 by small_snow, translation #792956 by Swift
- そのやり方を教えて。Teach me how you do it.This sentence demonstrates using 教えて to ask for a specific method.Tatoeba #8612284 by small_snow, translation #2351 by CK
- フランス語を教えて。Teach me French.This sentence illustrates using 教えて to request instruction in a language.Tatoeba #9749140 by small_snow, translation #8034204 by CK
- お教えください。Please teach me.
- 教えていただけませんか？Could you please teach me?
- 教えて。Teach me.
- 教えてよ。Teach me, please.
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are at a cafe, and Ren wants to learn a new game.
- 蓮 Renこのゲームのルールを教えて。Kono geemu no ruuru o oshiete.Teach me the rules of this game.
- 美咲 Misakiいいよ。まずはカードを配るね。Ii yo. Mazu wa kaado o kubaru ne.Sure. First, I'll deal the cards.
- 蓮 Ren美咲は教えるのが上手だね。Misaki wa oshieru no ga jouzu da ne.Misaki, you are good at teaching.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう。楽しみながらやってみて。Arigatou. Tanoshimi nagara yattemite.Thank you. Try to enjoy it while you play.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
