Take it (for me)
取ってください。
I steadfastly refused to believe that phrase existed for a long time. I’m not sure why. I think there was a barrier somewhere in my head blocking the logic connection. Getting used to it helped remove that barrier, and now I’m cool.
取る (とる) is often used with “take” verb patterns. Take vacation, take time, etc. So I think that prevented me from realizing that while it does mean take something (in this case, whatever object you are pointing at / put before it with を), but it also means “and give it to me.” Altogether it means “pass.” It’s one of those patterns you learn your first year in class, but for some reason I never got used to it until now. Maybe it has something to do with sharing a small apartment between a large number of people – it’s easier to pass things than to forever shuffle around すみませんing.
With friends you can say the casual 〜を取って, but make sure to add the ください at the office or with people significantly older than you.
I logged this entry under passive. Get it?
September 24th, 2008 at 6:58 am
This is so true. I still slip up and say “watashite” sometimes. Then I get made fun of.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
That would make so much more sense.
Unfortunately that’s one syllable longer.
回す gets used around the office a lot, but that’s
for more people.
I’m writing
like this.
Because my blog thingie sucks.