Japanese with Manga

Please let me with

Grammar: Permission

〜させてください asks permission for the speaker to act: “please let me ~” or “please allow me to ~”. It often assumes that the listener is likely to agree.

Usage Notes

In casual situations, speakers shorten the request to 〜させて or 〜させてもいい？. When speaking to a superior, 〜させていただけませんか is more deferential.

Formation

View formation details
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

Want to submit a manga example for this grammar?

Please let me help you with 〜させてください

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

Manga panel from ARIA The MASTERPIECE showing example of Please let me help you 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

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 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

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

Manga panel from レンタルおにいちゃん showing example of Please let me pay with 〜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.”