JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 20

～させてもらう・～させていただく

Do something with another person’s permission or consideration

You’ll be able to present your own action as something permitted or graciously allowed by others, including a more humble form.

Illustration of the scene described by May I take photos here?
Read it first

ここで写真しゃしんを撮とらせてもらってもいいですか。

koko de shashin o torasete moratte mo ii desu ka.

What do you think this sentence means?

May I take photos here?

Why it means that

Do an action with permission or consideration

～させてもらう and humble ～させていただく express that you are doing an action with the permission or kind indulgence of someone else ("allow me to...", "I will take the liberty of...").

Examples

ちょっと電話でんわを使つかわせてもらってもいい？

chotto denwa o tsukawasete moratte mo ii?

Can I use your phone for a moment?

今日きょうはお先さきに帰かえらせていただきます。

kyou wa osaki ni kaerasete itadakimasu.

If you will excuse me, I will go home before you today.

How it is built

Attach もらう or いただく to the causative te-form

Put the verb into its causative te-form (～させて) and attach もらう (neutral) or いただく (humble polite). It frames your own action as being graciously permitted by the other party.

verb (causative te-form)+もらう／いただく
Example

自己紹介じこしょうかいをさせていただきます。

jikoshoukai o sasete itadakimasu.

Please allow me to introduce myself.

Compare

～てもらう vs ～させてもらう

～てもらう means someone else does the action for you. ～させてもらう means you do the action yourself, because someone lets you.

  • ～てもらう, have someone do it

    友達ともだちに写真しゃしんを撮とってもらった。

    tomodachi ni shashin o totte moratta.

    I had my friend take a photo (of me).

    The friend takes the photo.

  • ～させてもらう, be allowed to do it

    友達ともだちに写真しゃしんを撮とらせてもらった。

    tomodachi ni shashin o torasete moratta.

    My friend let me take a photo.

    I take the photo, with permission.

Examples

レポートを印刷いんさつしたかったので、友達ともだちの家いえのプリンターを使つかわせてもらった。

repooto o insatsu shitakatta node, tomodachi no ie no purintaa o tsukawasete moratta.

I wanted to print my report, so my friend let me use the printer at their house.

急きゅうに雨あめが強つよくなったので、店みせの入いり口ぐちで少すこし雨宿あまやどりさせてもらった。

kyuu ni ame ga tsuyoku natta node, mise no iriguchi de sukoshi amayadori sasete moratta.

The rain suddenly got heavy, so the shop let me shelter from it at the entrance for a while.

本日ほんじつは、私わたしが司会しかいを務つとめさせていただきます。

honjitsu wa, watashi ga shikai o tsutomesasete itadakimasu.

Today, I will be serving as the host.

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