Imperative form (命令形) "Do!"
meirei-kei
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
Blunt command. Used by superiors to subordinates, in emergencies, cheering, signs, and quoting instructions.
The imperative is the blunt command form: 書け！ (Write!), 食べろ！ (Eat!), しろ！ (Do it!). It is short, strong and rough. In everyday polite life you rarely say it to someone's face, but you meet it constantly: on signs (止まれ), in cheering (頑張れ！), in emergencies (逃げろ！) and when quoting what someone ordered (「静かにしろ」と言われた).
Superiors to subordinates in rough speech, parents to children, coaches and fans at sports events, emergency warnings, traffic signs, and reported commands (〜と言われた / と書いてある). Men use it more than women in casual speech.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Group 1: change the last う-row sound to the え-row: 書く→書け, 行く→行け, 急ぐ→急げ, 待つ→待て, 飲む→飲めGroup 2: drop る and add ろ: 食べる→食べろ, 見る→見ろ, 起きる→起きろGroup 3: する→しろ, 来る→来い (こい)Irregular: くれる→くれ (貸してくれ = lend it to me)Negative command (prohibitive): dictionary form + な (lesson 8)
Visual diagram
書く / 食べる / する / 来る
dictionary form
- + u-row → e-row書けGroup 1: Write!
- + -る → -ろ食べろGroup 2: Eat!
- + する → しろしろGroup 3: Do it!
- + 来る → 来い来い (こい)Group 3: Come!
Natural examples
早く起きろ！
はやく おきろ！
Get up quickly!
Group 2: 起きる → 起きろ. A blunt wake-up call.
頑張れ！
がんばれ！
Go for it!
Cheering: the imperative is normal and friendly here.
先生に「静かにしろ」と言われた。
せんせいに「しずかに しろ」と いわれた。
I was told "be quiet" by the teacher.
Quoting an order: the imperative stays inside the quote.
火事だ！早く逃げろ！
かじだ！はやく にげろ！
Fire! Get out, quick!
Emergencies are one of the few times the imperative is used to strangers.
道路の標識に「止まれ」と書いてあった。
どうろの ひょうしきに「とまれ」と かいてあった。
The road sign said "Stop".
Signs use the imperative because it is short and clear.
Similar grammar and the difference
A softer command used by parents and teachers and in exam instructions. Still not for superiors. Compare side by side
The negative command: 入るな (Don't enter). Same rough level. Compare side by side
〜てください / 〜て
The normal polite and casual requests. Use these in daily conversation instead of the imperative.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- ちょっと待て、先生。
- ✓
- 少々お待ちください、先生。
- Why
- The imperative is far too rough for a teacher or customer. Use お〜ください or 〜てください.
- ✗
- 早く食べれ。
- ✓
- 早く食べろ。
- Why
- Group 2 verbs take ろ. The え-row change is only for Group 1 verbs (飲め, 書け).
- ✗
- ここに来れ。
- ✓
- ここに来い。
- Why
- 来る has the irregular imperative 来い (こい).
In quoted speech the imperative is neutral: 医者に「毎日歩け」と言われた simply reports the instruction. 〜てくれ (手伝ってくれ) is the imperative of くれる and is a rough but common male request among friends. The literary Group 2 imperative 〜よ (食べよ, せよ) appears in written instructions and exam wording (答えよ).
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- You are tested on recognising imperatives inside quotes and on signs: 「〜と書いてある」 or 「〜と言われた」 followed by 止まれ / 入れ / 来い.
- Conjugation options may mix 来い / 来ろ / 来れ. Only 来い is correct; likewise しろ (or literary せよ) for する.
Frequently asked questions
What does Imperative form (命令形) "Do!" mean?
Blunt command. Used by superiors to subordinates, in emergencies, cheering, signs, and quoting instructions. The imperative is the blunt command form: 書け！ (Write!), 食べろ！ (Eat!), しろ！ (Do it!). It is short, strong and rough. In everyday polite life you rarely say it to someone's face, but you meet it constantly: on signs (止まれ), in cheering (頑張れ！), in emergencies (逃げろ！) and when quoting what someone ordered (「静かにしろ」と言われた).
How do you form Imperative form (命令形) "Do!"?
Group 1: change the last う-row sound to the え-row: 書く→書け, 行く→行け, 急ぐ→急げ, 待つ→待て, 飲む→飲め / Group 2: drop る and add ろ: 食べる→食べろ, 見る→見ろ, 起きる→起きろ / Group 3: する→しろ, 来る→来い (こい) / Irregular: くれる→くれ (貸してくれ = lend it to me) / Negative command (prohibitive): dictionary form + な (lesson 8). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is Imperative form (命令形) "Do!" used?
Superiors to subordinates in rough speech, parents to children, coaches and fans at sports events, emergency warnings, traffic signs, and reported commands (〜と言われた / と書いてある). Men use it more than women in casual speech.
What is the difference between Imperative form (命令形) "Do!" and 〜なさい?
A softer command used by parents and teachers and in exam instructions. Still not for superiors.
What is the difference between Imperative form (命令形) "Do!" and Prohibitive 〜な?
The negative command: 入るな (Don't enter). Same rough level.
What is a common mistake with Imperative form (命令形) "Do!"?
Wrong: ちょっと待て、先生。 Right: 少々お待ちください、先生。 The imperative is far too rough for a teacher or customer. Use お〜ください or 〜てください.
Quick check
コーチは選手に「もっと速く（ ）」と言った。