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Commanding with 〜たまえ

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.

While rarely used in modern daily conversation, it frequently appears in fiction to convey an old-fashioned or authoritative tone. As such, it is often more important for understanding the speaker’s personality than the literal meaning itself.

Formation

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:

FormExampleFeel
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

Stop joking with 〜たまえ

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Commanding 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...”