「お/ご〜いただけませんか」- Polite Requests

Explanation

Grammar: お/ご + Verb masu-stem + いただけませんか
Meaning: A polite way to request someone to do something, similar to "Could you please...?" or "Would you mind...?"

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
お/ご + Verb masu-stem + いただけませんか	お + Ichidan verb masu-stem / お + Godan verb masu-stem / ご + Suru-verb stem	Used to politely request someone to do something, expressing "Could you please...?" or "Would you mind...?"

Basic Usage

• Connection Patterns:
  • お + Ichidan verb masu-stem + いただけませんか
  • お + Godan verb masu-stem + いただけませんか
  • ご + Suru-verb stem + いただけませんか

Example:

• お伝つたえいただけませんか？
• Otsutae itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please pass on the message?
  

Examples

• こちらを１つ私わたしにお譲ゆずりいただけませんか？
• Kochira o hitotsu watashi ni oyuzuri itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please give me one of these?
  

• 詳くわしくお教おしえいただけませんか？
• Kuwashiku oshie itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please explain in detail?
  

• お名前なまえをお聞きかせいただけませんか？
• Onamae o okikase itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please tell me your name?
  

• 記入きにゅうした内容ないように誤あやまりがないかご確認かくにんいただけませんか？
• Kinyuu shita naiyou ni ayamari ga nai ka gokakunin itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please check if there are any mistakes in the filled-out content?
  

Deep Dive

The key to this expression lies in the use of the humble form いただけませんか, which makes the request more polite and respectful. In principle, the prefix お is used with native Japanese verbs, while ご is used with Sino-Japanese verbs, though there are some exceptions.

Examples:

• お待まちいただけませんか？
• Omachi itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please wait for a moment?
  

• ご説明せつめいいただけませんか？
• Gosetsumei itadakemasen ka?
• Could you please explain?
  

In more formal situations, an even more humble form いただけませんでしょうか can be used to express a higher level of respect and politeness.

Example:

• 恐おそれ入いりますが、少々しょうしょうお待まちいただけませんでしょうか。
• Osoreirimasu ga, shoushou omachi itadakemasen deshou ka?
• I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you please wait for a moment?
  

Real-Life Scenarios

• Requesting information in a business meeting.
• Asking for help in a formal letter.
• Making requests when speaking to elders or superiors.

Summary

お/ご〜いただけませんか is a polite way to make requests, suitable for formal situations. By using humble language, it makes the request more respectful and courteous. Understanding its usage and appropriate contexts can help improve the politeness and appropriateness of your Japanese communication.