kopiiyousi wo zyuumai kudasai.

Questions & Answers about kopiiyousi wo zyuumai kudasai.

What does コピー用紙 mean exactly?

コピー用紙 means copy paper or printer paper.

It is made of:

  • コピー = copy
  • 用紙 = paper used for a specific purpose

So コピー用紙 is not just any kind of paper; it specifically refers to paper used in copiers or printers.

Why is used in this sentence?

marks コピー用紙 as the thing being requested.

In X を ください, the pattern means:

  • X = the thing you want
  • ください = please give me

So:

  • コピー用紙をください = Please give me copy paper

When 十枚 is added, it becomes:

  • コピー用紙を十枚ください = Please give me ten sheets of copy paper
What does 十枚 mean, and why is used?

十枚 means ten sheets.

Breakdown:

  • = ten
  • = counter for flat, thin objects

Japanese uses different counters depending on the type of thing being counted.
is used for things like:

  • paper
  • shirts
  • plates
  • tickets

Since paper is flat and thin, is the correct counter.

How do you pronounce 十枚?

十枚 is pronounced じゅうまい.

So the full sentence is pronounced:

コピーようし を じゅうまい ください。

A natural rhythm would be:

コピー用紙を 十枚 ください。

Why does the number come after the noun instead of before it?

In Japanese, counters often come after the noun they count.

So:

  • コピー用紙を十枚ください = literally something like copy paper, ten sheets, please

This is normal Japanese word order.

You may also see:

  • コピー用紙十枚ください

The can sometimes be omitted in casual real-life requests, especially in stores or offices, but the version with is very standard and clear.

Why isn’t it 十の紙 or something more like English ten papers?

Japanese does not usually count things by simply putting a number directly before the noun the way English does.

Instead, it uses:

So for sheets of paper, you say:

  • 十枚

Also, paper in this sentence is understood as sheets of paper, not just the general material paper.

What does ください mean here?

Here, ください means please give me.

It is a very common polite way to ask for an item.

So:

  • 水をください = Please give me water.
  • これをください = Please give me this.
  • コピー用紙を十枚ください = Please give me ten sheets of copy paper.

Even though English usually just says please, Japanese often uses this expression that literally has the sense of give me, please.

Is this a complete sentence?

Yes, it is a complete and natural sentence in Japanese.

Japanese often leaves out information that is obvious from context, such as:

  • who is speaking
  • who is being spoken to
  • for me
  • please give

So even though there is no explicit subject like I or you, the meaning is clear:

  • Please give me ten sheets of copy paper.
Is this polite?

Yes. ください makes it polite and appropriate for many everyday situations.

It would sound natural in places like:

  • an office
  • a school
  • a store
  • a copy room

If you want to sound a little softer or friendlier, you could also say:

  • コピー用紙を十枚お願いします。

That also means Ten sheets of copy paper, please, and is very common in service situations.

Does 十枚 mean ten individual sheets, not ten packs?

Yes. 十枚 means ten separate sheets.

Because counts flat individual items, this sentence specifically refers to ten sheets of paper.

If you wanted to ask for a pack or package of paper instead, you would normally use a different word or counter depending on how it is packaged.

Could I leave out and just say コピー用紙十枚ください?

Yes, you can, and people do say that.

Both are natural:

  • コピー用紙を十枚ください
  • コピー用紙十枚ください

The version with is a bit clearer grammatically and is often better for learners to start with.
The version without is very common in quick spoken requests.

Why is コピー用紙 written in katakana plus kanji?

Because it combines:

  • コピー in katakana, since it is a loanword from English copy
  • 用紙 in kanji, a native/Japanese-style word meaning paper for use

This kind of mixed writing is very common in Japanese. A borrowed word and a native word are often combined into one expression.

Can I use this pattern with other things?

Yes. The pattern is very useful:

[item] を [number + counter] ください

Examples:

  • りんごを三つください。 = Three apples, please.
  • 切手を二枚ください。 = Two stamps, please.
  • ペンを一本ください。 = One pen, please.

So your sentence follows a very common and practical pattern for asking for things in Japanese.

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Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".

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