教えて
oshiete
The Japanese phrase for "tell me" is 教えて (oshiete).
教えて is used as a request for someone to provide information or to explain how to do something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The casual form 教えて is commonly used among friends, peers or family members. For more formal situations, you can use 教えていただけますか, which translates to "Could you tell me, please?" and is appropriate when speaking to superiors, elders or esteemed individuals. In professional contexts or when addressing someone of higher social status, the phrase おっしゃってください is also commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the request polite and suitable for strangers or superiors, you can add ください to the end of the phrase to form 教えてください, meaning "please tell me".
How do you pronounce it?
oshiete
Did you know?
- The verb inside 教えて actually means 'to teach' or 'to instruct' rather than simply 'to tell'. This is why the same phrase is used whether you are asking for a street address or a complex math lesson.
- The formal version 教えていただけますか uses a helper verb that literally translates to 'Can I receive the favor of you teaching me?'
- The formal alternative おっしゃってください comes from the honorific verb おっしゃる, which is used exclusively for the actions of others and never for one's own actions.
Examples in context
- 場所教えて。Tell me where it is.This sentence uses 教えて to ask for a location.Tatoeba #10906700 by small_snow, translation #3199856 by CK
- もっと教えて！Tell me more!This sentence uses 教えて to ask for more information.Tatoeba #9930387 by small_snow, translation #8666848 by ajje
- 名前を教えて。Tell me your name.This sentence uses 教えて to ask for a name.Tatoeba #11257985 by sh5555, translation #1553391 by CK
- 来週の予定を教えてください。(Please) Tell me about your schedule for next week.
- この問題の答えを教えていただけますか？Could you tell me the answer to this question, please?
- この映画の結末を教えてよ。Tell me the ending of this movie, please.
- 明日の計画、言ってよ！Tell me about tomorrow's plan, please!
- 327 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta is asking Yui for help with a difficult math problem.
- 健太 Kentaこの問題の答えを教えて。Kono mondai no kotae o oshiete.Tell me the answer to this problem.
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。まずはここを見て。Ii yo. Mazu wa koko o mite.Sure. First, look here.
- 健太 Kentaやり方を詳しく教えて。Yarikata o kuwashiku oshiete.Tell me the method in detail.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった。ゆっくり説明するね。Wakatta. Yukkuri setsumei suru ne.Got it. I'll explain it slowly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
