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Japanese grammar

What does ～(さ)せてください mean? Japanese grammar N4

～(さ)せてください means please let me ~.

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N4
StructureV (causative) て + ください
V (causative) て + いただけませんか (more polite)
Romaji~ (sa)sete kudasai
Meaningplease let me ~

Forming it

More polite～(さ)せていただけませんか / ～(さ)せていただきたいんですが
Group 1 (godan)あ-row + せて: いく → いかせて → 行かせてください、やすむ → 休ませてください
Group 2 (ichidan)Drop る + させて: たべる → 食べさせてください、かんがえる → 考えさせてください
Group 3 (irregular)する → させて → させてください、くる → こさせて

How to use it

Asking someone above you for permission to do something you yourself want to do.

  • This pattern combines the causative form with ～てください. The literal meaning is "please make me do ~", the real meaning is "please allow me to do ~". It sounds a bit backwards to Vietnamese speakers, but it reflects the Japanese perspective: the decision-making power lies with the person above you.
  • Core difference from ～てもいいですか: ～てもいいですか simply asks whether it's allowed (neutral). ～させてください clearly expresses a STRONG PERSONAL WISH — "I really want to do this, please allow me". That's why it's more earnest and polite.
  • Very common at work and school: 「今日は早く帰らせてください」 (please let me go home early today), 「この仕事をやらせてください」 (please let me do this job).
  • For maximum politeness, use ～させていただけませんか or ～させていただきたいんですが. The form ～させていただきます (not a question, but an announcement) is also heard a lot in workplace Japanese: 「発表させていただきます」 (allow me to present).
  • Remember to conjugate the causative correctly for the right group first — this is the step learners often get wrong, especially for group 1 (which must go through the あ-row).

Examples

  • Excuse me, please let me go home early today.

  • Please let me do that job.

  • Could you please let me take next Monday off?

Keep in mind

  • Only used when YOU YOURSELF want to do the action. Don't use this pattern to ask permission on someone else's behalf.
  • 「考えさせてください」 (let me think about it) is a very polite way to postpone a decision.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong頭(あたま)が痛(いた)いので、部長(ぶちょう)、早(はや)く帰(かえ)ってください。

    Since I have a headache, please let me go home early, department manager.

    Correct頭(あたま)が痛(いた)いので、部長(ぶちょう)、早(はや)く帰(かえ)らせてください。

    Asking permission for YOURSELF to leave early requires conjugating the causative first (～させてください). This sentence instead uses てください (asking SOMEONE ELSE to do something) — the meaning becomes "since I have a headache, you go home early", which makes no sense because the reason (I have a headache) has nothing to do with the listener needing to leave.

  • Wrong休(やす)むせてください。

    Please let me take time off.

    Correct休(やす)ませてください。

    Wrong-group causative conjugation. 休む is group 1, so む must change to ま before adding せる → 休ませる → 休ませて. Learners often attach せて directly to the dictionary form.

  • Wrong私(わたし)がこの資料(しりょう)をコピーしてください。

    Please let me photocopy this document.

    Correctこの資料(しりょう)をコピーさせてください。

    Wanting to ASK PERMISSION to do it yourself requires the causative form (～させてください); 「私が～してください」 is still asking the LISTENER to perform it — adding the subject 「私が」 doesn't change the nature of 「してください」.

  • Wrong帰(き)えらせてください。

    Please let me go home.

    Correct帰(かえ)らせてください。

    The causative form of 「帰る」 is 「帰らせる」 — getting the okurigana wrong is a common mistake.

Exam tips

  • Familiar trap: distinguish 「帰らせてください」(let me go home) from 「帰ってください」(you go home).
  • Remember ～させていただきます in workplace situations in the listening section.

Related patterns

All N4 grammar →