Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 7: 4/18

なさいCommand to do

When casual, can be shortened to just な

Structure

Verb[stem]+ なさい

Details

  • Polite

About なさい

なさい is the imperative form of なさる, an honorific language verb which specifically highlights and respects the actions of another person (never the speaker).

Despite being respectful, the fact that this is a 'command' means that it would never be used toward a superior. Due to this, なさい is most frequently used toward peers, or people of lower status, like children.

To use なさい, simply connect it to the ます stem of any verb.

なさい may be shortened further to な, which becomes an even more casual form that is used most frequently toward peers.

Caution

Be careful not to get confused between な (the particle), and な (the shortened form of なさい). These can seem very similar, but な (meaning don't) will always be used with the dictionary form of a verb, while な (meaning please do) will always be used with the ます stem of a verb.

Synonyms


Antonyms



Examples

--:--

  • 勉強(べんきょう)しなさい

    Study!

  • (はや)(かえ)りなさい

    Hurry up and go home!

  • 野菜(やさい)()べなさい

    Eat your vegetables!

  • これをパパ(わた)しなさい

    Hand this to your dad.

  • 注意(ちゅうい)しなさい

    Be careful.

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なさい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    なさる and くださる belong to a group of slightly irregular verbs where the imperative and the masu stem end in -ai, together with いらっしゃる and おっしゃる and ござる.

  • weebtronic

    weebtronic

    Bunpro says: “Since this grammar point is used toward peers, or people of lower status, like children, using a お here would sound unnatural.”

    but don’t people say おやすみなさい??

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    おやすみなさい is an exception since this has just become a phrase used as a greeting similar to おはようございます and こんにちは.

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