ちょうだい

ちょうだい
expression
please give me (casual)
See also: 頂戴(ちょうだい)する (humble verb form)
1. please give me
A casual way to request something, equivalent to ください but softer and more informal. Originally from 頂戴(ちょうだい) meaning 'to receive humbly', but in modern casual speech it's a request form.
ママ、お水(みず)ちょうだい。
Mom, give me some water please.
Typical child's speech
それ、ちょうだい。
Give me that, please.
もう一(ひと)つちょうだい。
Give me one more, please.
ねえ、お菓子(かし)ちょうだい。
Hey, give me some sweets, please.
お金(かね)ちょうだい。
Give me some money, please.
2. please do ~
When attached to the て-form of verbs, functions like ください to make a casual request. Often used by women and children.
ちょっと待(ま)ってちょうだい。
Wait a moment, please.
〜てちょうだい = please do ~
見(み)せてちょうだい。
Show me, please.
静(しず)かにしてちょうだい。
Be quiet, please.
手伝(てつだ)ってちょうだい。
Help me, please.
もう少(すこ)し待(ま)ってちょうだいね。
Please wait a little longer, okay?

REGISTER: Casual and soft. Commonly used by:

  • Children speaking to parents
  • Women in casual conversation
  • Close friends and family

Not appropriate in formal situations or when speaking to superiors.

PATTERNS:

  • 〜ちょうだい (give me ~)
  • 〜てちょうだい (please do ~) - same function as 〜てください but more casual

COMPARISON WITH ください:

  • ください - neutral polite, can be used in most situations
  • ちょうだい - casual, soft, often sounds feminine or childish
  • くれ - very casual/rough, typically masculine

ORIGIN: From 頂戴(ちょうだい)する (to humbly receive), which is still used as a humble/formal verb meaning 'to receive'.

Related Words

Contrast: 下(くだ)さい (polite form)
basic
Added 2026.1.12 18:20 · Revised 2026.5.26 2:17
03000/03435_choudai