Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 9: 16/16

命令形(めいれいけい)(Verb)!, Do (something)!

Avoid using this conjugation since it might sound rude and threatening.

Structure

Examples:
[る1]Verb() + (1)
[る5]Verb(すわ) +
[う]Verb(うた) +
[く]Verb(ある) +
[す]Verb(はな) +
[つ]Verb() +
[ぬ]Verb() +
[ぶ]Verb() +
[む]Verb(やす) +
[ぐ]Verb(およ) +

Exceptions:
するしろ2
くるこい
くれるくれ

(1)
(2) せよ

Details

    About 命令形

    In Japanese, there are numerous ways to express an order, command, or instruction. The most direct, abrasive, and therefore least used method is called the imperative form, which happens to be one of the basic conjugations of verbs.

    Without particles following it, the imperative form is fairly uncommon in daily life, but will often be seen on traffic signs, posters, or banners. In addition, it can be also heard shouted at demonstrations, when cheering at sports events, or in urgent situations, such as an officer yelling at a suspect to stop.

    Verbs are conjugated into the imperative form in the following way. For う-Verbs, simply replace the last kana of any verb with the equivalent え sound kana from the same row. For る-Verbs, replace る with either ろ or よ.

    The imperative form may sometimes be softened with the particle . This is a pattern which is mostly used by men that are familiar with each other, in order to offer advice or encouragement. Women tend to use the more polite て-form of verbs instead.

    Any verb except for ある and いる may be conjugated to the imperative form, due to their meanings being based on existence and nothing more.

    Fun Fact

    The なさい, polite imperative that comes from なさる is mostly used by teachers and parents talking to their children. It is also often used in instructions on test papers. When speaking to animals, the polite prefix お plus the ます-stem will also occasionally be used.

    • テスト:「(いち)()(さん)(よん)から一つ(えら)なさい。」
      Test: 'Choose one answer out of 1, 2, 3, and 4.'
    • (いぬ)へ:「お(すわ)。」
      To a dog: 'Sit!'

    Fun Fact

    Originally, よ was used instead of ろ with る-Verbs. Despite this, with time it has been gradually losing popularity, and nowadays it is considered to be a more formal, written variant.

    Examples

    --:--

      (わたし)携帯(けいたい)(かえ)

      Give back my cellphone!

      もっと()

      Drink more!

      ゴミゴミ(ばこ)()てろ

      Throw away your trash in the trash can!

      (はや)()

      Sleep already!

      先生(せんせい)(みな)(しず)しろ!」()った

      The teacher said, 'Everyone, be quiet!'

    • Get more example sentences!

      Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

    Self-Study Sentences

    Study your own way!

    Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

    • Online


      • Offline

          • Shin Kanzen Master N3

            46

          • A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar

            Page 70

        • Track Resources!

          Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

        命令形 – Grammar Discussion

        There's currently no discussion for 命令形

        Start it to ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

        Start Discussion