How to Say ‘Be good.’ in Japanese
いい子にして。
ii ko ni shi te
[ee koh nee shee teh]
💬 Usage Tip: [いい子にして。] literally means “make yourself a good child,” but naturally it means “be good” or “behave.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Parents say this to children very often, especially before leaving them somewhere or asking them to wait nicely.
Phrase Breakdown
いい子
ii ko
good child; well-behaved child
Refers to someone, especially a child, who is behaving well.
いい子で待っていてね。
Wait here and be good.
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee]
good
いい means “good.” In this phrase, it describes 子 and implies well-behaved.
いい子にして。
Be a good child.
子
ko
[koh]
child
子 means “child.” いい子 means a good or well-behaved child.
この子はいい子です。
This child is a good child.
にして
ni shi te
be; make (someone/something)
From する in the te-form, used here in the pattern 〜にして meaning 'behave as a good child' or 'be good.'
いい子にしてね。
Be a good child, okay?
Words in this phrase
に
ni
[nee]
into; as
に marks the state to become. Here it means “into” or “as” in “be a good child.”
いい子にしてまっていて。
Be a good child and wait.
し
shi
[shee]
do; make
し comes from する and means “do” or “make.” Here it helps form “make yourself/be.”
ちゃんといい子にして。
Be a good child properly.
て
te
[teh]
do it; please
て-form here makes the phrase a request: “please be ...” or “stay ...”
おるすばんのあいだ、いい子にして。
Be a good child while I'm out.
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