Many of you know that "-teiru" is used in such ways as
Progress of activities "be doing" ex. 今、電話で話しています。 (now I am talking on the phone) Habitual activities "(always, everyday) do something" ex. いつもその店で野菜を買っています。(I always buy vegetables at that store) Status after a change "(got A and now) be A" ex. 結婚しています。(I am married.) , 太っています。(I am fat.) Today let's learn one more usage of "-teiru." Here is an example. A woman walking ahead of you drops her handkerchief. You want to stop her to give it to her. You say 待ってください。 Please wait./please wait a second. It's fine. Now, you are on the way to a station, where you are supposed to meet your friend. You want him to stay there and wait for you. You say 待っていてください。 Please stay and wait (keep waiting). Second example. You have a lot of bags after shopping with a friend. Your mobile phone is ringing. You want to free one of your hands to get the call. You say to your friend, passing a bag 持ってください。 Please hold it. /Please take and hold it. Your phone call is finished, but you have to take a note. You still have to use your hand, so you say to your friend まだ持っていてください。Please keep holding it. Do you get it? The ーていてください indicates a longer time of the activity. In English this "-teiru" part is equivalent to "stay", "remain" or "keep." In some songs there is a phrase "見ていてください." "見てください" would mean "now look at it" but "見ていてください" is more like "watch it" Ex. 先生、私はこれからもっと日本語が上手になりますから、見ていてください! Sensei, I will be better at Japanese, so keep an eye on my growth.
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Takae
Job: Japanese teacher, English tour guide Archives
March 2023
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