"gambatte kudasai" in Japanese is like "please do your best". What is the subtle meaning behind it?
This is actually a follow-up question from https://www.italki.com/question/166631

I was wondering about the subtle meaning behind it, rather than the translation.
If I'm correct 'kudasai' means 'please' in the form of a request (taken from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-difference-between-kudasai-and-onegaishimasu-3572604)

I think in English, adding "please" means you're involved yourself too. For example: your boss telling you "do your best please" for a speech probably means that he wishes the speech would go well, because a failure would influence him as well. Just saying "do your best" leaves out that subtle addition of self-involvement.

So my follow-up question: do the Japanese then also include the wish, expectation or self-involvement of the person who says it? Or is the Japanese form of please in 'gambatte kudasai' used in a more altruistic way? (so more like: "do your best, and I really wish for YOU to succeed").

Question

"gambatte kudasai" in Japanese is like "please do your best". What is the subtle meaning behind it?
This is actually a follow-up  question from https://www.italki.com/question/166631

I was wondering about the subtle meaning behind it, rather than the translation.
If I'm correct 'kudasai' means 'please' in the form of a request (taken from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-difference-between-kudasai-and-onegaishimasu-3572604)

I think in English, adding "please" means you're involved yourself too. For example: your boss telling you "do your best please" for a speech probably means that he wishes the speech would go well, because a failure would influence him as well. Just saying "do your best" leaves out that subtle addition of self-involvement.

So my follow-up question: do the Japanese then also include the wish, expectation or self-involvement of the person who says it? Or is the Japanese form of please in 'gambatte kudasai' used in a more altruistic way? (so more like: "do your best, and I really wish for YOU to succeed").

Answer

Actually "kudasai" which from the word "kudasaru" means do something for the speaker. But it doesn't really mean do for the speaker. It's just a expression that emphasizes the speaker strongly want the listener do it. So it isn't a self-involved saying. If the speaker wants to show his strong willing of himself doing something, the sentence should be" gannbalimasu".

Hope my answer can help you

Answer

Gannbatte kudasai sometime means the speaker's wish for things can go well, and sometime just a social formula.

Gannbatte kudasai and gannbattene are same meaning. Just the kudasai one is the formal and polite expression. And gannbattene is casual expression which is often used in oral saying and to people like your friends or younger than you