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How are "alstublieft" and "graag" different?
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I'm always confusing which to use.
These words means "please"?
My Dutch teacher used to say "graag" is more polite than "als", but some Dutch people told me they are different and taught me some example.
Unfortunately I could't understand it.
Wilt u uitleggen?
These words means "please"?
My Dutch teacher used to say "graag" is more polite than "als", but some Dutch people told me they are different and taught me some example.
Unfortunately I could't understand it.
Wilt u uitleggen?
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The word "Please" in dutch can be translated to different words, depending on the sentence and the meaning of the word (much like in the Japanese language).
If you are asking somebody to do something for you, then it would be "Alsjeblieft"/"Alstublieft" (In the Old dutch language it wold have been "Als het u belieft", but we don't use that anymore).
example: "Would you please pass me the sugar"/"Zou u mij de suiker alstublieft willen doorgeven"/[砂糖を取って下さい].
But if your ordering something, like a cup of tea, or if your getting meat at the butcher, then you use "Graag", usually in combination with "willen" "kopen" and words such as that.
Example: "I would like to have a cup of tea, please"/"Ik zou graag een thee willen (bestellen)"/[紅茶を１杯お願いします].
However, sometimes you can use both words, in both situations. The line is very thin, much like the Japanese 下さい and お願い.
Ik hoop dat ik je hiermee het ietsjes heb kunnen uitleggen.
Bij de AH
De verkoper "Bonetje?"
Ik "Ja, graag"
Is it OK?
Yeah, this is a very common expression. Actually, I think it's a shortcut for "ja, dat wil ik graag" (which is more verbose and uncommon) because "graag" needs a verb.
To make things more difficult, you can use them both in some situations.
For example to a waiter: "Een kopje koffie graag, alstublieft". That's actually short for "(Ik wil) graag een (kopje) koffie, als het u belieft". ["A (cup of) coffee (would) please (me), if it pleases you" == "A coffee, please, please"] :)
I always say "Mag ik een koffie hebben"
I know it is too polite at a cafe, but useful for me.
That's not too polite and flawless too! Advanced: by using a polite full sentence, but not yet saying 'alstublieft' (please), you're sort of implying you're going to say more. The waiter will linger a few seconds before finally getting your coffee. :)
Wilt u dit uitleggen?
Om een volledige zin te maken is het nodig aan te geven wat er uitgelegd zou moeten worden. Het woordje "dit" is een simpele manier om te verwijzen naar iets wat je eerder gezegd hebt. Persoonlijk zou ik trouwens eerder iets als "Wil iemand dit (aan mij) uitleggen?" zeggen, omdat het gevraagd wordt aan een breed publiek en niet aan één specifiek persoon.
In order to form a complete sentence it's necessary to indicate what should be explained (i.e. in Dutch you should use the equivalent of "could you explain this" rather than just "could you explain"). In this case you can use the word "dit" (lit. "this") to refer to what you've just explained. By the way, personally I'd prefer the equivalent of "Could someone explain this (to me)?" because the question isn't asked to any particular person.
Zoals Michi al zegt zijn er geen simpele regels voor. Wel bedacht ik me net een aantal nuttige kenmerken:
- De uitdrukking "alstublieft" kan direct in een verzoek of aanbod gebruikt worden om het beleefd te zeggen, bijvoorbeeld "wilt u alstublieft betalen" of "alstublieft, hier is uw bestelling".
- Graag is een versterking van een werkwoord, het wordt vaak gebruikt om een wens uit te drukken of om aan te geven dat je het zou waarderen als een verzoek wordt uitgevoerd. Bijvoorbeeld "ik wil graag bestellen" of "ja, dat wil ik graag" (dat is de volledige vorm van "ja, graag").
Like Michi said there aren't really clear-cut rules for this. I did think of some useful properties:
- The expression "alstublieft" can be used directly in a request or offer to make it polite, so in many cases it's the equivalent of "please" in the context of sentences like "could you please pay?".
- The word "graag" basically reinforces a verb in a certain way (it can be compared to words like "really" and "very" but they are definitely not interchangeable). It is often used to state a wish or express that you'd be pleased if a request is fulfilled. So this word is often used like "please" in the context of "I'd like to order something, please" or "yes, (I'd like that,) please".
Thank you for your kind explanation.
Even though I'm still confusing, it is very helpful.
I take off from Dutch lesson class because I have just started attending English class.
Learning two languages at the same time is very challenging for me, however I'd like to use Dutch at a cafe or store.
That's very understandable! The transition between Asian and European languages is very hard. I'm experiencing this myself with Japanese. After a few weeks of studying I can't even manage to write a basic text. Learning two hard languages at once is even tougher of course.