Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Please let me with 〜させてください

Grammar: Permission

〜させてください is an expression used when the speaker wants to request permission to do something: “Please let me ~” or “Please allow me to ~.”

It carries the nuance of “I want to do ~, but I need your permission to do so.”

This expression is often used in situations where the speaker feels fairly confident that the other person will give permission.

Usage

It is typically used in polite requests and in situations where permission is required from the listener.

In casual situations, a shortened forms such as 〜させて or 〜させてもいい？ may be used. When speaking to superiors, 〜させていただけませんか may be used.

Formation

This pattern is built by taking the causative form of a verb (using the auxiliary させる or せる depending on the verb type), converting it to the て-form, and adding ください.
  1. 五段(ごだん) verb stem + causative + て + ください
    • 少(すこ)しだけ話(はな)させてください
    • "Please let me speak for a moment."
  2. 一段(いちだん) verb stem + causative + て + ください
    • 子供(こども)たちに日本語(にほんご)を教(おし)えさせてください
    • "Please allow me to teach Japanese to the children."
  3. する + causative + て + ください
    • この仕事(しごと)をさせてください
    • "Please let me do this job."
  4. 来る + causative + て + ください
    • 明日(あした)の会議(かいぎ)に来(こ)させてください
    • "Please let me come to tomorrow's meeting."
  5. The negative is 〜させないでください
    • 子供(こども)たちに日本語(にほんご)を教(おし)えさせないでください
    • "Please don't let me teach Japanese to the children."

Further Reading

Examples

Please let me help you with 〜させてください

Manga panel from ARIA The MASTERPIECE showing example of Please let me with 〜させてください.
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 3 » Page 287

Akari meets Woody as he’s out on a delivery run. He’s in a spot of trouble because he’s lost his map, and there isn’t enough time for him to go back and get it. Akari is familiar with the city and realizes she can lend him her knowledge.

灯里(あかり):
「あっ…　あの！」
“Ah, um!”
「もしも私(わたし)でよかったら…　お手伝(てつだ)いさせてくさだいっ！」
“If I would be okay... Please let me help you!”

Please let me hold the baby pandas 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 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 me hold 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!”

Please let me pay with 〜せてください

Manga panel from レンタルおにいちゃん showing example of Please let me with 〜させてください.
レンタルおにいちゃん » Volume 1 » Page 95

To help ease Kanami’s sorrow due to her situation in life, Makoto offers to let her rent time with him as an older brother. On the first rental, Kanae says she will pay him, something Makoto wasn’t expecting.

叶実(かなみ):
「レンタルはお金(かね)がかかります」
“A rental costs money.”
「だからお金(かね)払(はら)わせてください」
“Therefore, please let me pay.”

The verb 払(はら)う becomes the causative 払(はら)せる.