phrase
yamete kudasai
yah-MEH-teh koo-dah-SIGH
Yamete kudasai (phrase) means a Japanese expression meaning "please stop", used to ask someone to stop what they are doing. Example: “She held up a hand and said yamete kudasai.”
phrase
1
Japanese A Japanese expression meaning "please stop", used to ask someone to stop what they are doing.
"She held up a hand and said yamete kudasai."
"In the scene the character shouts yamete kudasai as the fight breaks out."
2
internet slang Used online, chiefly by non-Japanese speakers, as a joke catchphrase quoting anime and adult animation, typically to feign mock protest.
"He posted a screenshot of his bank balance captioned "yamete kudasai"."
How to use yamete kudasai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJapanese for "please stop".
When to use it
Ordinary polite Japanese, but in English-language internet use it carries strong joke and adult-anime associations. Use with care.
Common pairings
yamete kudasai, onegai
shouted yamete kudasai
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Etymology
From Japanese yamete, the te-form of yameru "to stop", plus kudasai "please".
Synonyms
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yamero
stop it
please stop
Rhymes for yamete kudasai
See all rhymes for yamete kudasai →Frequently asked questions
What does yamete kudasai mean in English?
It means "please stop". Yamete is the request form of the verb "to stop" and kudasai adds politeness, so the whole phrase is a polite request that someone cease what they are doing.
What is the difference between yamete and yamete kudasai?
Yamete on its own is a plain, casual "stop it", suitable between friends or in a moment of urgency. Adding kudasai makes it polite, roughly "please stop".
Why is yamete kudasai used as a meme?
It is widely quoted from anime and from Japanese adult animation, and English-speaking internet users repeat it as a mock protest for comic effect. Because of that association it can read as crude to Japanese speakers, even though the phrase itself is entirely ordinary.
What is the meaning of yamete kudasai?
"yamete kudasai" (phrase) means a Japanese expression meaning "please stop", used to ask someone to stop what they are doing.
