Imperative sentence might be something you might not use too often but you definitely want to know because it will come in handy when you need to express your strong opinion. Typically in English, imperative sentence begins with the base form of verb, and it ends with a period or exclamation point.

It is similar in Japanese. However, in Japanese, it is a bit more different in that the ending of the verb will change. The key point to remember is, for the most part, it ends with ~ namai (~ なさい) or ~Re (れ) or ~Ro (ろ).

Let me show you with some examples.

 

Study hard!

This sentence could be translated in two different ways.

1)  Isshoukenmei benkyo shinasai! 一生懸命、勉強しなさい！いっしょうけんめい　べんきょう　しなさい！

2) Isshoukenmei benkyo shiro! 一生懸命、勉強しろ！いっしょうけんめい　べんきょう　しろ！

The second sentence is more abrupt and straight forward way of saying “Study Hard”. Perhaps, father might be saying this way to his children. It indicates a bit of frustration or anger on whoever is saying. The first one could also sound pretty strict, but it indicates more of guidance, often from mothers to children or teachers to students.

 

Read more books! 

1)  Motto hon o yominasai もっと本を読みなさい！　もっと　ほんを　よみなさい

2) Motto hon o yome! もっと本を読め！もっと　ほんを　よめ！

 

Run faster! 

1)  Motto hayaku hashirinasai! もっと速く走りなさい！　もっとはやく　はしりなさい！

2) Motto hayaku hashire! もっと速く走れ！　もっと　はやく　はしれ！

 

Stop talking!

1)  Hanasuno o yamenasai!  話すのを止めなさい！　はなすのを　やめなさい！

2) Nanasuno o yamero! 　 話すのを止めろ！　はなすのを　やめろ！

 

Stop fighting! 

1)  Kenka wa yamesanai!   喧嘩は、止めなさい！　けんかは　やめなさい！

2) Kenka wa yamero! 　喧嘩は、止めろ！　けんかは　やめろ！

 

Go apologize!  

1) Ayamatte kinasai!   謝って来なさい！あやまって　きなさい！

2) Ayamatte koi! 　謝って来い！あやまって　こい！

 

Go apologize!  

1) Ayamatte kinasai!   謝って来なさい！あやまって　きなさい！

2) Ayamatte koi! 　謝って来い！あやまって　こい！

 

Stop it! or Stop doing it! 

1) Sore yamenasai!  それやめなさい！

2) Sore yamero! 　それやめろ！

 

Do you get an idea how the Japanese imperative sentence works? ~nasai (~なさい)sentence is easy to make one.  In the next post, I would like to cover the “negative imperative sentence in Japanese” Stay tuned!