Which one is correct: "ti raccomando" vs "mi raccomando"?

Question

I know that both `"ti raccomando"` and `"mi raccomando"` are used with the sense of `"I recommend you"`, but to me, coming from outside, the use of the "mi" form seems illogical and should be translated as `"I recommend to myself"` (so if I need to recommend something to me, I don't need to speak to another person, I can just have a nice monologue in my head :) . So my questions are: is the "mi" form correct and it was born from a grammatical mistake gone mainstream or is something more subtle that I, as a foreigner, don't catch?

Answer 1

Mi raccomando and ti raccomando has the same meaning

Answer 2

Ciao!

The neutral meaning of raccomandare is to recommend/to suggest:

Ti raccomando un buon ristorante = I recommend/suggest to you a good restaurant

Mi raccomando translates the expression be sure/make sure you..

Mi raccomando non fare tardi! = be sure/ make sure you will not be late!

I hope this was helpful!

Answer 3

The form mi raccomando is usually used in sentences like Mom to the son: MI RACCOMANDO non tornare tardi stasera! I recommend myself to you to not be late tonight MEANING I trust you to not come late tonight

Ti raccomando instead used in more real meaning: When I see your boss ti raccomando for a promotion.