Breakdown of mawari wo mite kudasai.
をwo
direct object particle
くださいkudasai
please
周りmawari
surroundings
見るmiru
to look
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have hundreds of Japanese lessons and thousands of exercises.
Questions & Answers about mawari wo mite kudasai.
What does 周り mean and how is it pronounced?
周り is read as まわり and means “surroundings,” “around (one),” or “vicinity.” It refers to the area or things surrounding you.
What is the function of を in 周りを見てください?
を marks 周り as the direct object of the verb 見る, showing what you are looking at. In English: “Look at your surroundings.”
Why is 見て in the て-form, and what does て-form + ください do?
The て-form (見て) connects the verb to ください, forming a polite request. Verb-て + ください means “please do [verb].” Here it’s “please look.”
How polite is 見てください, and are there more casual or formal alternatives?
見てください is a standard polite request. More casual options include 見て or 見てね, while a more formal alternative is ご覧ください (ごらんください).
Could I say 周りを見ろ? What’s the difference?
周りを見ろ uses the plain imperative (“look around!”). It’s direct and can sound forceful or rough. 周りを見てください is softer and more polite.
Can I drop を or change the word order in this sentence?
No, を is required because 周り is the object of 見る. Word order in Japanese is somewhat flexible, but the typical and clearest order for a polite request is 周りを見てください.
Why is ください written in hiragana instead of kanji (下さい)?
Both ください (hiragana) and 下さい (kanji) are correct. In modern writing, the hiragana ください is more common for verb usage, while 下さい often appears in set phrases or formal notices.
Why can’t I use 周りに見てください instead of 周りを見てください?
The particle に marks a location or target of movement, not a direct object. Since you are looking at your surroundings, you need the object marker を, not に.