Commands

This page serves as an overview of basic command patterns in Japanese including:

ろ・え – Angry
な – Annoyed/Angry/Defensive
and なさい – Bossy

There is also a brief discussion of “Plain Form” commands.

Affirmative Command Form

Do it (Angry)
Ichidan ます verb stem + ろ
Godan ます verb stem + え

This command form is overused by foreigners. In English, we tend to use tone of voice to communicate severity; However in Japanese that is done (mostly) by words. Affirmative command forms tend to be angry, rude, and a little scary. 

Examples

• 食べろ – Eat your damn food. 
• 帰れ – Get out of here. (We don’t want you here)
• やめろ – STOP!
  
  

Negative Command Form

Don’t do X (Annoyed)
Dictionary form verb + な

The negative command form consists of adding な to the dictionary form of a verb.
The negative command form can be slightly less rude and angry than the affirmative. This is because it is a command to stop doing something; i.e. stop touching me etc., and is generally used for preserving you or someone else’s safety. 
(This slightly less rude nuance also applies to “stop” type words, like やめる）

Examples

• 触るな – Don’t touch me!
• 帰るな – Don’t leave (I’m not done with you)
• 飲むな – Don’t drink that (it’s poison, it’s mine, etc.)

Polite Command Form

Do it (polite)
ます stem ＋ なさい

なさい is the polite command form. It was originally the old command form of なさる, which is the respectful version of する.
However, this kind of command, while respectful compared to the command form, is still a command. It is used primarily with people below you, such as children or subordinates; i.e. you are in a position to boss them around. There is a slight connotation of “I know best”. It can sound bossy.

See also ください

Examples

• 勉強しなさい – Go on and study. 
• 食べなさい – Go on and eat your food.
• 飲みなさい – Take your medicine.
• 謝りなさい – Now go and apologize. 

*”Go on” added for nuance.

Comparison

To summarize, traditional command form (ろ/え) sounds angry, annoyed, or frustrated (with you). 
While なさい feels bossy. 

• 勉強しなさい – Go on and study. 
  勉強しろ – Study or I’m going to hurt you.
  
  
• たべなさい – Go on and eat your dinner.
  食べろ – Eat your damned food. 
  
  
• 帰りなさい – Go on home now. 
  帰れ – Get out of here. I don’t want you here. I hate you. 
  
  

Polite Negative Command Form

Don’t do it (polite)
Noun/Nominalized verb +をやめなさい
Negative Dictionary Form verb + ようにしなさい。

There are actually 2 options for a polite negative command form:
Using a stop word like やめる in the affirmative or
Using a negative (ない) + ようにする

やめなさい

Using an affirmative “stop” command:

• 遊ぶのをやめなさい – Stop playing.
• 話すのをやめなさい – Stop talking. 

ないように

• 走らないようにしなさい – Do such that you don’t run. -> Don’t run
• ふざけないようにしなさい – Do so that you don’t mess around. -> Don’t mess around.

Plain Form Commands

Do/Don’t
Verb plain form

This is skippable for N4 purposes. 
Finally, we have the simplest of all commands, the plain form. It is primarily used for children and in schools. It’s somewhat condescending (Said by someone higher to lower) and usually negative, but can be used in the affirmative. This pattern tends to have an exclamation point. 

• 廊下を走らない! – “not” run the halls -> Don’t run in the halls
• 殴らない! – Don’t hit. (Someone doesn’t/won’t hit) → (You) don’t hit
• 手を挙げる! – (You) Raise your hand. (you (will) raise your hand)
• そこに座る！ – Sit down. 

The simplest explanation as to why this works is that while a normal statement would be taken to be about oneself (I), since the topic is omitted it can also be interpreted to be about the listener (you). 

Japanese research paper on plain negative command

See also ください and Keigo Requests