Word
ゆっくり 話して ください。yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Meaning
Please speak slowly.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
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Questions & Answers about yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
What part of speech is ゆっくり here?
ゆっくり is functioning as an adverb (副詞), meaning “slowly” or “at a relaxed pace.” It directly modifies the verb 話して.
Should I add に after ゆっくり (i.e. ゆっくりに話してください)?
No. ゆっくり already works as an adverb, so you don’t need に. Japanese adverbs typically modify verbs without a particle. If you want a slightly more formal nuance, you can say ゆっくりと話してください, where と is another way to turn words into adverbs.
Why is the verb in the て-form (話して) instead of the dictionary form (話す)?
When you make a polite request in Japanese, you use Verb (て-form) + ください. Here, 話す → 話して + ください gives “please speak.”
What kind of expression is ～てください?
～てください is the basic polite request pattern. It literally means “please do …,” and is neutral in tone—appropriate for most everyday requests.
Can I make this request more polite or formal?
Yes. You can use ～ていただけますか (e.g. ゆっくり話していただけますか) for a higher level of politeness. Alternatively, you can employ the honorific prefix and noun form: , which sounds more refined.