"Which is Correct: '下さい' or 'ください'? A Guide to Proper Japanese Usage When Writing to Guests"

2017.04.12 published

Don’t Be Embarrassed! Let’s Check the Common Uses of Japanese Language Again＊

When preparing items for a wedding, there are many opportunities to create texts and messages for guests.

For example,

You might write on the invitation, "Please arrive by ○○ time on the day."

Or send to guests, "We would like you to perform a special entertainment."

When writing such formal texts, have you ever wondered the following???

【In this case, should I write 'いただく' in kanji or hiragana?】

Those working brides who regularly send business emails may think they know this well, but

there might be some brides who surprisingly don’t quite understand how to use kanji...＊

If you feel 'I’m a little ambiguous about it,' let’s master it this time!

In this article, we will explain the differences regarding frequently used words in wedding preparations and everyday life:

☑ "頂く" and "いただく"

☑ "下さい" and "ください"

☑ "致します" and "いたします"

① Difference between "頂く" and "いただく"

First, let’s start with the difference between "頂く" and "いただく."

① First of all, the kanji "頂く" serves as a verb.

An example would be, [お茶を頂く] or [お菓子を頂く].

② In contrast, the hiragana "いただく" functions as an auxiliary verb.

Examples include [お楽しみいただく] or [お越しいただく]＊

In other words, when it is used with a verb, the correct form is hiragana "いただく"◎

I think you will use hiragana more often when creating wedding items＊

② Difference between "下さい" and "ください"

Next, let’s explain the difference between "下さい" and "ください"＊

① The kanji "下さい" serves as a verb meaning "to receive."

Examples include [お菓子を下さい] or [資料を下さい]. It follows the format of noun + ~を下さい.

② In contrast, the hiragana "ください" is commonly used as an auxiliary verb.

Examples include [お待ちください] or [お越しください]＊

Just like the earlier case with "いただく," when connecting with a verb, you should use the hiragana "ください"◎

③ Difference between "いたします" and "致します"

Finally, let's introduce the difference between "致します" and "いたします"＊

You might already understand, but this has the same usage as the previous two words.

① The kanji "致す" has a meaning related to causing undesirable effects or results.

You might have heard phrases like [致し方ない] or [不徳の致すところ], and some may perceive a slightly negative image when using kanji...

② In contrast, the hiragana "いたす" is a humble form of the verb "to do" and is more polite＊

Therefore, the phrase [よろしくお願いいたします] should rightly be in hiragana.

For "致す" and "いたす," it's generally considered safer and better to write it in hiragana in most situations.

【Conclusion】 It's typically fine to write in hiragana ♩

Many people are using the following three words ambiguously:

☑ "頂く" and "いただく"

☑ "下さい" and "ください"

☑ "致します" and "いたします"

We have introduced their differences.

When crafting texts for wedding items, since they are mostly used with verbs, it's usually okay to write them in hiragana ♩

Please write wonderful wedding messages using the correct Japanese language in accordance with manners＊