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
Related
Vocab Coverage
All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.
Examples
--:--
勉強しなさい。
Study!
早く帰りなさい。
Hurry up and go home!
野菜を食べなさい。
Eat your vegetables!
これをパパに渡しなさい。
Hand this to your dad.
注意しなさい。
Be careful.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Online
Difference between なさい and てください / でください
JStackExchange
Offline
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 284
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 204
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 236
Genki II 3rd Edition
Page 234
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 180
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
なさい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

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.

weebtronic
That explains it, thank you!

The111
The reviews for this grammar point flag it as Sonkeigo. But that word is not listed in the lesson anywhere, and based on my limited understanding, the grammar point is not Sonkeigo (although it is derived from a Sonkeigo verb). Can somebody please clarify?
And could the lesson and reviews please be consistent? If it is Sonkeigo, please considering explaining that clearly in the lesson. If it is not, please consider removing that word from the reviews.