ください

1. Requesting Objects
To ask for things (both physical and abstract), use the pattern: [Noun] + を + ください. In casual speech, the particle を is sometimes omitted, but it is required in written or official contexts.

2. Using Quantifiers
When ordering specific amounts, place the counter after the particle: [Noun] + を + [Number/Counter] + ください. For example: りんごを二つ（ふたつ）ください (Two apples, please).

3. Requesting Actions
To ask someone to do something, use the て form of the verb: [Verb て] + ください. This is the standard way to give instructions or make requests (e.g., 'Please look,' 'Please wait').

4. Negative Requests
To ask someone not to do something, use the ない form plus で: [Verb ない] + でください (e.g., 忘れないで（わすれないで）ください - Please don't forget).

5. ください vs. お願いします
While ください (when used without a verb) is used to ask for things (both physical and abstract, e.g., 水をください, 時間をください), お願いします（おねがいします） can be used for both items and services. In fact, native speakers often prefer お願いします for items as it sounds more humble and polite. When using お願いします for items in natural speech, the particle を is often dropped (e.g., 水、お願いします). お願いします is also generally preferred when requesting a service or action from staff (e.g., 東京駅までお願いします), asking for a favor, or relying on someone's goodwill. While saying お会計をください is grammatically correct to ask for the physical bill, お会計をお願いします is more common and natural for requesting the overall service.

6. Politeness and Nuance
While polite, ください is technically a command. Service staff often use the even more formal お + Verb Stem + ください pattern (for native Japanese verbs) or the ご + Noun + ください pattern (for Sino-Japanese verbal nouns, e.g., ご注意（ごちゅうい）ください) with customers. There are also irregular honorific verbs used in this context (e.g., ご覧（ごらん）ください, お召し上がり（おめしあがり）ください). In shops and hotels, you may also hear くださいませ, which adds a softer, more welcoming tone to the request. To be more polite to a superior, use indirect forms like ていただけませんか.

7. Kanji vs. Hiragana
In formal business and official writing (公用文), there is a strict rule: use the kanji 下さい when it functions as the main verb meaning 'to give' (e.g., 資料を下さい, 時間を下さい), and use the hiragana ください when asking for actions (as an auxiliary verb attached to the て form). While using hiragana for both is very common and safe in casual contexts, distinguishing them is required in professional settings.

8. Direction of Giving
Because ください comes from the verb くださる (to give to me), the receiver of the object or action must be the speaker or someone in the speaker's in-group. You cannot use it to ask someone to give something to an outsider. For example, to say 'Please give him the book,' you must use a different pattern (like 彼に本をあげてください), not 彼に本をください.