How do you use "could (Polite Request)" in a sentence?

Could you pass the salt, please? Could I borrow your pen? Could you repeat that? Could we have the bill, please?

could (Polite Request)

Q: What does "could (Polite Request)" mean?

Making polite requests and asking for permission 'Could' is more polite than 'can' for requests: 'Could you help me?' vs 'Can you help me?' It doesn't refer to past ability here - it's a polite form for present/future.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Making polite requests and asking for permission

礼貌地提出请求和寻求许可

Hacer peticiones corteses y pedir permiso

丁寧にお願いしたり許可を求めたりする

정중하게 부탁하거나 허락을 구하기

'Could' is more polite than 'can' for requests: 'Could you help me?' vs 'Can you help me?' It doesn't refer to past ability here - it's a polite form for present/future.

'Could'在请求时比'can'更礼貌：'Could you help me?'比'Can you help me?'更有礼貌。这里不是指过去的能力——而是现在/将来的礼貌形式。

'Could' es más cortés que 'can' para peticiones: 'Could you help me?' vs 'Can you help me?' Aquí no se refiere a habilidad pasada - es una forma cortés para el presente/futuro.

「Could」は依頼の際に「can」より丁寧です：「Could you help me?」対「Can you help me?」ここでは過去の能力を指すのではなく、現在・未来の丁寧な形式です。

'Could'는 부탁할 때 'can'보다 더 정중합니다: 'Could you help me?'가 'Can you help me?'보다 공손합니다. 여기서는 과거의 능력을 의미하지 않으며, 현재/미래에 대한 정중한 표현입니다.

Examples

Could you pass the salt, please?
请你递一下盐好吗？
¿Podrías pasarme la sal, por favor?
塩を取っていただけますか？
소금 좀 건네주시겠어요?
Could I borrow your pen?
我可以借你的笔吗？
¿Podría tomar prestado tu bolígrafo?
ペンを借りてもいいですか？
펜을 빌려도 될까요?
Could you repeat that?
你能再说一遍吗？
¿Podrías repetir eso?
もう一度言っていただけますか？
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Could we have the bill, please?
请给我们账单好吗？
¿Podríamos tener la cuenta, por favor?
お会計をお願いできますか？
계산서를 주시겠어요?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: polite

✓ Do Say

Could you open the window?
你能开一下窗户吗？
¿Podrías abrir la ventana?
窓を開けていただけますか？
창문을 열어 주시겠어요?
Could I have a glass of water?
我可以要杯水吗？
¿Podría tomar un vaso de agua?
お水を一杯いただけますか？
물 한 잔 주시겠어요?
Could you tell me the way?
你能告诉我怎么走吗？
¿Podrías indicarme el camino?
道を教えていただけますか？
길 좀 알려주시겠어요?
Could you help me?
你能帮我一下吗？
¿Podrías ayudarme?
手伝っていただけますか？
도와주실 수 있으세요?

✗ Don't Say

Could you to help me? (no 'to')
Could you to help me?（不加'to'）
Could you to help me? (no se pone 'to')
Could you to help me?（「to」は不要）
Could you to help me?（'to'는 불필요함）

Origin & History

Polite request modal

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal