Verb[て]
JLPT Level: N4
Meanings
Casual request for someone to do something
Ask someone to perform an action for you in a casual tone
Imperative-like use of the て-form in friendly speech
Usage
Verb + て
Explanation
The て-form of a verb can be used in casual speech to ask someone to do something for you. This is a direct, familiar way to request an action, usually among friends, family, or people of the same age/status. It sounds abrupt if used with strangers or in formal situations, so it often carries a sense of closeness or casual expectation. To soften a request in more formal contexts, you would use てください or てくださ(い). In casual speech, you can simply drop the ending politeness and use the て-form alone when the listener is understood to help or act.
これ、片付けて。
これ、かたづけて。
Please tidy this up.
ちょっと見てて。
ちょっとみてて。
Just watch over it for a moment.
明日までに資料、見せて。
あしたまでにしりょう、みせて。
Show me the documents by tomorrow.