How do you say "Please don’t touch it." in Japanese?

"Please don’t touch it." in Japanese is "さわらないでください。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "さわらないでください。" mean in English?

"さわらないでください。" means "Please don’t touch it." in English. Usage tip: [さわらないでください。] is a clear and polite request. Very useful if an area is injured or off-limits.

🙏🚫🤚

How to Say ‘Please don’t touch it.’ in Japanese

さわらないでください。

sawara nai de kudasai

[sawara nai de kudasai]

💬 Usage Tip: [さわらないでください。] is a clear and polite request. Very useful if an area is injured or off-limits.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japanese massage settings, it is absolutely okay to say this if needed. Safety beats politeness anxiety every time.

Phrase Breakdown

さわらないで

sawara nai de

don’t touch

The negative te-form is used to make a polite request or instruction.

Example

触らないでください。

Please don’t touch it.

Words in this phrase

さわら

sawara

[sawara]

do not touch

Verb stem from さわる, used here in a polite negative request.

Example

そのへんはさわらないでください。

Please do not touch around there.

ない

nai

[nai]

not

Negative ending that changes the verb to not do.

Example

そこはさわらないでください。

Please do not touch there.

で

[de]

and; in this pattern, don't

Part of the grammar pattern ないでください for polite prohibition.

Example

ここはさわらないでください。

Please do not touch here.

ください

kudasai

[kudasai]

please

Polite request marker added after a verb phrase.

Example

さわらないでください、と言いました。

I said, 'Please do not touch.'

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