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Commanding with

Grammar: Colloquial and Casual Speech » 〜たまえ

〜たまえ is an expression used to urge or command someone to do something. It is primarily used by a person of higher status toward someone of lower status. It is the imperative form of the auxiliary verb 給(たま)う.

Modern everyday conversation rarely uses 〜たまえ, but fiction gives it to old-fashioned or authoritative characters. The form tells you as much about the speaker as it does about the command.

Formation

View formation details
Attach たまえ to the verb's ます-stem.
  1. 五段(ごだん) verb stem + たまえ
    • よく聞(き)きたまえ
    • "Listen carefully."
  2. 一段(いちだん) verb stem + たまえ
    • こちらを見(み)たまえ
    • "Look this way."
  3. する -> したまえ
    • 早(はや)くしたまえ
    • "Do it quickly."
  4. 来る -> 来たまえ
    • ここへ来(き)たまえ
    • "Come here."

たまえ vs. Other Command Forms

Japanese has several was to give a command. Here is where たまえ sits among them:

Form Example Feel
Plain imperative 行(い)け Blunt, rough, aggressive
〜なさい 行(い)きなさい Firm but parental/teacherly
〜たまえ 行(い)きたまえ Authoritative, old-fashioned, top-down
〜てください 行(い)ってください Polite request
〜てくれ 行(い)ってくれ Casual request, informal

Related Grammar

Examples

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Stop joking with 〜たまえ

Grammar Explanation: Commanding with 〜たまえ

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Stop joking with 〜たまえ.
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 8

Assisting the police with a murder investigation, Shin’ichi explains how the culprit was able to move without a trace by going out a window and scaling the wall to the next window up. The victim’s husband demands to know who killed his wife, only for Shin’ichi to accuse him.

御主人(ごしゅじん):
「じょ、冗談(じょうだん)はよしたまえ…　だいいち、ワシの足(あし)はまだ…」
“S-stop joking around.... First of all, my leg is still...”
新一(しんいち):
「ヘタな芝居(しばい)は、やめてくださいよ…」
“Please stop with the lousy acting...”