Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Please let me hold the baby pandas with 〜させてください

Grammar Explanation: Please let me with 〜させてください

Manga panel from しろくまカフェ bis showing example of Please let me hold the baby pandas with 〜させてください.
しろくまカフェ bis » Volume 2 » Page 84

Rin Rin loves pandas such that when he makes a delivery to Panda’s home, he can’t resist the cuteness of the younger siblings. Panda Mama takes out her purse to cover the cost of the delivery, but Rin Rin refuses to accept payment.

リンリン:
「仔(こ)パンダ抱(だ)っこさせてくださいッ！！」
“Please let mehold the baby pandas!!”
パンダママ:
「…いいけど 代金(だいきん)も払(はら)うわよ」
“That's fine, but... I'll also pay the bill!”

Key Points

  1. 抱(だ)っこさせてください asks permission to hold them

    • 抱(だ)っこする means “to hold” or “to cuddle” a small child or animal.

    • The する part becomes the causative させる, so 抱(だ)っこさせてください means “please let me hold them”.

  2. 仔(こ)パンダを: the object particle is omitted

    • A fuller version is 仔(こ)パンダを抱(だ)っこさせてください.

    • The baby pandas are clearly what Rin Rin wants to hold, so casual speech can leave を unstated.

  3. させてください is not making someone else act here

    • In this request, Rin Rin is asking Panda Mama to allow him to do the action.

    • Read it as “let me hold the baby pandas”, not “make the baby pandas hold something”.

  4. …いいけど grants permission, then pivots

    • Panda Mama’s いいけど means “that’s fine, but…” and accepts the holding request.

    • The けど leads into her added point: she still intends to pay the delivery fee.