Imperative in Japanese: formation, uses, and alternatives

O imperative in Japanese is used to give orders, instructions, or warnings in a direct manner. The form called 命令形 (meireikei) can be useful in emergencies, sports, commands, and dramatic speech, but it often sounds strong in ordinary conversation. To ask for something more carefully, constructions like Vてください or Vないでください.

In this guide, you will learn how to form imperative sentences in Japanese, distinguish the three verb groups, and choose between 命令形, なさい, てください, てくれ and other alternatives. The main point is this: the conjugation depends on the verb group, and the choice of expression depends on the situation and the relationship between people.

Japanese imperative: quick summary

Do not treat these forms as perfect synonyms. They can all guide the listener's action, but they change the level of imposition, politeness, and closeness. If you do not yet master verb classification, review the Verb groups in Japanese before memorizing the conjugation table.

How to form the imperative of group 1 verbs

In group 1 verbs, also called godan, the last mora of the dictionary form moves from the u line to the and. line. In practical terms, swap the ending according to the table:

The last line avoids a common mistake: not every verb ending in る belongs to group 2. 帰る (to return), 入る (to enter), and 走る (to run) are group 1 verbs; therefore, they become 帰れ, 入れ and 走れ. The explanation about the three verb types from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies also warns that there are verbs in -iru and -eru in group 1.

How to form the imperative of group 2 verbs

In group 2 verbs, or ichidan, remove the る final and add ろ:

• 食べる → 食べろ (taberu → tabero) — eat;
• 見る → 見ろ (miru → miro) — look;
• 起きる → 起きろ (okiru → okiro) — wake up;
• 教える → 教えろ (oshieru → oshiero) — teach or tell.

Some materials also record an ending in よ, like 食べよ, especially in written or literary styles. For modern communication, 食べろ is the most useful form to recognize first. The OJAD, from the University of Tokyo, allows you to look up the imperative form of verbs by group.

Imperative of する and 来る

The two main irregular verbs have their own forms:

• する → しろ (suru → shiro) — do;
• 来る → 来い (kuru → koi) — come.

せよ is another form of する that appears in written language, formal instructions, exam questions, and fixed expressions. In everyday speech, you will probably encounter しろ more often.

Examples of the direct imperative form

危ない！逃げろ！
Abunai! Nigero!
Danger! Run!

ボールを見ろ。
Bōru o miro.
Look at the ball.

静かにしろ。
Shizuka ni shiro.
Be quiet.

こっちへ来い。
Kocchi e koi.
Come here.

The Portuguese translations may seem normal out of context, but the Japanese sentences above are direct. Intonation, urgency, social role, and situation alter the interpretation.

How to form the negative imperative with な

The direct prohibition is formed with the verb in dictionary form followed by な. The な comes after the verb:

• 食べるな。 (Taberu na.) — Don't eat.
• 行くな。 (Iku na.) — Don't go.
• ここに入るな。 (Koko ni hairu na.) — Don't come in here.
• Don't worry. (Shinpai suru na.) — Don't worry.
• Don't come. (Kuru na.) — Don't come.

Don't confuse this construction with other uses of な at the end of a sentence. Here, the sequence Vるな functions as a strong prohibition. To speak directly with someone more carefully, use Vないでください. To explain rules and things that are not allowed, refer to the guide on how to ask for permission and prohibit in Japanese.

When the imperative form is used

The direct imperative form is not simply “wrong” or “forbidden” in conversation. It is appropriate when the force of the command matches the situation. It can appear in:

• urgent warnings: 逃げろ！ — “Run!”;
• quick instructions in sports and team activities;
• institutional, military, or orders from someone with explicit authority;
• encouraging phrases, slogans, and rhetorical language;
• fictional dialogue and quotes of an order: 「来い」と言った — “said ‘come’”.

Among strangers, colleagues without intimacy, or in customer service, the same form can sound aggressive. Anime, manga, movies, and games are useful for recognizing the pattern, but dramatic dialogue should not be automatically copied into real conversation.

There is also no safe division like “this form is for men” or “that one is for women.” Speech tendencies vary by era, region, character, group, and identity. To learn how to use the imperative, mainly observe register, hierarchy, intimacy, urgency, and intention.

Alternatives to the direct imperative

Vてください: polite request or instruction

Use て-form followed by ください to formulate a polite request or instruction:

Please write your name here.
Koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name here.

THE Japan Foundation's explanation of Vてください presents the construction as a polite way to give instructions or commands. “Polite” does not necessarily mean “optional”: in classrooms, forms, and procedures, it can be an instruction that the person is expected to follow.

Vないでください: ask not to do

To ask someone not to perform an action, use the negative form in ない, add でください and get Vないでください:

ここで写真を撮らないでください。
Koko de shashin o toranaide kudasai.
Please do not take photos here.

THE Japan Foundation explains Vないでください as an instruction not to do something and highlights the importance of the relationship between speaker and listener.

Vなさい: instruction, correction, or reprimand

なさい attaches to the stem of the ます form. Remove ます and add なさい:

• 書きます → 書きなさい — write;
• 食べます → 食べなさい — eat;
• します → しなさい — do;
• 来ます → 来なさい — come.

This form is common in instructions from parents or guardians to children, from teachers to students, and in other relationships where the speaker assumes authority or responsibility. It may sound less abrupt than 命令形, but it is still a command and does not simply equate to “please.” Its use is not determined by the speaker's gender.

Vて and Vてくれ: informal requests

Among close people, the form て alone can work as a casual request:

ちょっと待って。
Chotto matte.
Wait a moment.

Vてくれ presents the action as something the listener will do for the speaker. It is informal, direct, and can sound harsh:

この手紙を読んでくれ。
Kono tegami o yonde kure.
Read this letter for me.

With someone of higher status or in a delicate request, prefer more careful interrogative constructions, such as Vていただけますか, rather than Vてくれ.

Vたまえ: a marked form worth recognizing

Vたまえ is formed with the stem of ます: 座ります → 座りたまえ. Today, this form tends to sound marked, old-fashioned, authoritarian, or associated with certain characters and styles. It is useful for understanding fiction and texts, but should not be treated as a neutral alternative for everyday requests.

Compare the same action at different levels

See how “read this book” changes depending on the chosen form:

The best option doesn't come from grammar alone. Ask: who is speaking to whom, in what setting, with what urgency, and with what right to direct the action? This context analysis is part of the Basics of Japanese Grammar.

Common mistakes when forming imperative sentences

• Switching everything る per ろ: this works for group 2, but 帰る is from group 1 and becomes 帰れ.
• Put な before the verb: the direct prohibition is 食べるな, with な after the dictionary form.
• Always translate なさい as “please”: the form expresses instruction or order and presupposes some authority.
• Copying character lines without observing the context: a natural sentence in a conflict scene can be rude in everyday life.
• Confusing prohibition with negative request: 入るな is strong; 入らないでください formulates a polite request or instruction.

Quick exercise

Transform or complete the sentences:

1. Passe 帰る to the direct imperative.
2. Passe 食べる to the direct imperative.
3. Passe する to the direct imperative.
4. Say “Don't speak” as a direct prohibition, using 話す.
5. Say “Please don't enter” with 入る.
6. Which option would normally be more appropriate to ask a friend to wait: 待て or ちょっと待って?

Answers: 1. 帰れ; 2. 食べろ; 3. しろ; 4. 話すな; 5. 入らないでください; 6. ちょっと待って, unless the situation justifies a strong order.

What to remember

• Group 1: change the ending of the line u line to the and.
• Group 2: remove る and add ろ.
• Irregular: する → しろ and 来る → 来い.
• Direct prohibition: dictionary form + な.
• なさい expresses an instruction or reprimand with authority; it is not a form linked to a specific gender.
• For common requests, Vてください, Vないでください and, among close people, Vて are usually more appropriate options.

Practice first with verbs whose classification you know. Then, compare the imperative form with the simple form of Japanese verbs to recognize when the sentence is an order, a prohibition, or just a statement.