The plain imperative

Grammar: Prohibition

The plain imperative is the bare command:

  • 待(ま)て! “wait!”
  • 逃(に)げろ! “run!”

A godan verb shifts its final sound to the え row; an ichidan verb swaps る for ろ.

Usage Notes

The plain imperative suits urgency, anger, authority, or a speaker pretending to have authority. Between friends, sentence-final よ can soften it: 見(み)ろよ “hey, look”.

The irregular forms are 来(こ)い and しろ. The imperative くれ produces the rough request 〜てくれ, “do it for me”.

Formation

View formation details
  1. Godan verb (え-row)
    • 止(と)まれ!
    • "Stop!"
  2. Ichidan verb + ろ
    • 早(はや)く逃(に)げろ!
    • "Run, now!"
  3. する → しろ、来(く)る → 来(こ)い
    • こっちへ来(こ)い
    • "Come here."
  4. 〜てくれ (rough request)
    • ちょっと待(ま)ってくれ
    • "Give me a second. (Wait, I'm asking you.)"
    • Note: くれ is the imperative of くれる; it turns a command into a blunt request.
  5. Imperative + よ (softened)
    • ほら、見(み)ろよ
    • "Hey, look at that."
  6. 〜なさい (gentle command)
    • 早(はや)く寝(ね)なさい
    • "Go to bed now."
    • Note: なさい after the ます-stem is the parental/teacherly command (firm but not rough).

Simple Command

Most commonly, the plain imperative tells someone to do (or not do) something.

Example 1 of 11: Call me Teacher with と呼べ
Example 1 of 11
Manga panel from からかい上手の高木さん showing example of Call me Teacher with と呼べ.
からかい上手の高木さん » Volume 15 » Page 66

Sanae’s teacher, Mr. Tanabe, has proposed to her older sister, who is also a teacher at the school.

「次(つぎ)の日(ひ)。」
“The following day.”
サナエ:
「おはよーございます、ニーサン。」
“Good morning, Big Brother.”
田辺(たなべ):
「学校(がっこう)では先生(せんせい)と呼(よ)べ、月本(つきもと)…」
“Call me 'Teacher' at school, Tsukimoto.”
View Full Example
Example 2 of 11: The milk here is good with 牛乳
Example 2 of 11
Manga panel from よつばと! showing example of The milk here is good with 牛乳.
よつばと! » Volume 1 » Page 58

Yotsuba and her father have their first breakfast since moving to a new house in a new town. Yotsuba takes a bite from her toast, then drinks down some milk.

よつば:
「こっちの牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)はうめぇな!!」
“The milk here is good!”
父(とう)さん:
「(いっしょだろう…)よつば 今日(きょう)は遊(あそ)びに行(い)く時(とき) ちゃんといってきますって言(い)えよ」
“(It tastes the same...) Yotsuba, when you go out to play today, make sure you say "I'm off", okay?”
View Full Example

On their first morning in the new house, Yotsuba’s father sets a rule. 言(い)う becomes 言(い)え in the imperative, and よ softens it a little: “make sure you say ‘I’m off’”.

Example 3 of 11: Preparing by memorizing with 〜ておく
Example 3 of 11
Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか? showing example of Preparing by memorizing with 〜ておく.
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 16

As the experienced barista, Rize is tasked with teaching Cocoa about working at the café.

リゼ:
「メニュー覚(おぼ)えとけよ」
“Memorize the menu ahead of time.”
ココア:
「コーヒーの種類(しゅるい)が多(おお)くて難(むずか)しいねー」
“The different kinds of coffee are numerous and difficult, huh?”
View Full Example

Rize is training Cocoa at the café. 覚(おぼ)えておく, “memorize ahead of time”, shortens to 覚(おぼ)えとく, and its imperative is 覚(おぼ)えとけ. よ makes it sound like advice from a senior.

Example 4 of 11: Congratulations after touching with 〜てから
Example 4 of 11
Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか? showing example of Congratulations after touching with 〜てから.
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 49

Chino doesn’t have much luck with animals other than her rabbit Tippy. However, she’s able to successfully touch the always-still rabbit at Chiya’s family’s café.

ココア:
「やったよチノちゃん!おめでとう!!」
“At last, Chino-chan! Congrats!!”
リゼ:
「ちゃんと触(さわ)ってから祝(いわ)ってやれよ」
“After she properly touches the rabbit, congratulate her.”
View Full Example

Chino is about to touch the rabbit at Chiya’s tea shop, and Cocoa is already cheering. Rize tells her to wait: 祝(いわ)ってやれよ, “congratulate her”, but only after Chino actually touches it. やる is a rough “do for someone”, and its imperative is やれ.

Example 5 of 11: Care for not only Lou's face but also her body with 〜だけでなく〜も
Example 5 of 11
Manga panel from シャドーハウス showing example of Care for not only Lou's face but also her body with 〜だけでなく〜も.
シャドーハウス » Volume 6 » Page 45

Benjamin suggests Louise do push-ups alongside Lou, her “Living Doll”. When Louise tires quickly, Benjamin tells her to care for Lou’s body as well as her face.

ベンジャミン:
「顔(かお)だけでなく体(からだ)も労(ねぎら)ってやれ。」
“Take care of not only her face but also her body.”
「道具(どうぐ)の使(つか)い方(かた)を誤(あやま)るな」
“Don't misuse your tools.”
View Full Example

Benjamin suggests Louise exercise alongside Lou, her Living Doll, and Louise tires fast. 労(ねぎら)ってやれ, “take care of it”, ends in the imperative やれ. His next line is the prohibitive 誤(あやま)るな, “don’t misuse”.

Example 6 of 11: Watch the kid properly with ちゃんと
Example 6 of 11
Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Watch the kid properly with ちゃんと.
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 71

Conan and Ran end up with Kogoro investigating a kidnapping case. As Kogoro questions the butler, Conan steps in with his own questions. The butler asks who the child is.

小五郎(こごろう):
「いやー、わたしの知(し)り合(あ)いの子(こ)でして…」
“Well, it's the child of an acquaintance, and...”
「蘭(らん)!! ちゃんと面倒(めんどう)見(み)てろ!!」
“Ran! Properly look after him!”
View Full Example

Kogoro is questioning a butler about a kidnapping, and Conan keeps butting in. Kogoro snaps at Ran: 面倒(めんどう)見(み)てろ!!, “keep an eye on him!” 見(み)てろ is 見(み)ていろ, the imperative of ている, so it’s an order to keep watching.

Example 7 of 11: Thanks for the boxed lunch with サンキュ
Example 7 of 11
Manga panel from GALS! showing example of Thanks for the boxed lunch with サンキュ.
GALS! » Volume 1 » Page 14

Miyu visits Yamato at his police box workplace to bring him a packed lunch. She sees her friend, Yamato’s sister Ran, there and stops by to see her next. A call comes in, and Yamato heads to help provide backup.

大和(やまと):
「美由(みゆ) 弁当(べんとう)サンキュ」
“Miyu, thanks for the boxed lunch.”
「蘭(らん)! まっすぐ 家(いえ)に帰(かえ)れよ! じゃ」
“Ran! Head right home! Bye!”
View Full Example

Yamato, a police officer, gets a call for backup, and he leaves his sister Ran with an order: まっすぐ家(いえ)に帰(かえ)れよ!, “head straight home!” 帰(かえ)る is godan, so its imperative is 帰(かえ)れ.

Example 8 of 11: Misunderstanding an incriminating situation with 誤解
Example 8 of 11
Manga panel from ひよ恋 showing example of Misunderstanding an incriminating situation with 誤解.
ひよ恋 » Volume 13 » Page 73

Since Hiyori is resting on a bed inside, Junpei takes a plate from the barbecue to her room. As he walks in, he finds Hiyori and Yuushin in what looks like a compromising position.

淳平(じゅんぺい):
「…お前(まえ)ら昼間(ひるま)っから (カギかけろよなー)」
“You guys, in the middle of the day… (At least lock the door!)”
結心(ゆうしん):
「ち ちがう 誤解(ごかい)だ!!(そい寝(ね)だから!!)」
“N—No! You've got it wrong!! (We were just lying down together!)”
ひより:
「見(み)られた… 見(み)られた…っ」
“We were seen… We were seen…!”
View Full Example

Junpei walks in on Hiyori and Yuushin in what looks like a compromising position. His thought in parentheses is カギかけろよなー, “at least lock the door”. かける is ichidan, so its imperative ends in ろ.

Example 9 of 11: A sign of summer with 風物詩
Example 9 of 11
Professor Agasa and the children stretch during radio exercises while Conan looks unimpressed.
名探偵コナン » Volume 35 » Page 123

Conan has joined the other children for radio exercises at school. As everyone follows the routine, he broods over how he should be enjoying his summer vacation as a second-year high school student. Instead, he is stuck exercising with elementary schoolers and wonders what he is doing there.

元太(げんた):
「おい! 真面目(まじめ)にやれよな!」
“Hey! Take this seriously!”
歩美(あゆみ):
「ラジオ体操(たいそう)は大切(たいせつ)な夏(なつ)の風物詩(ふうぶつし)の一(ひと)つなんだよ!」
“Radio exercises are one of those treasured signs of summer!”
コナン:
「夏(なつ)の風物詩(ふうぶつし)ねえ…」
“A sign of summer, huh...”
View Full Example

Genta sees Conan going through the radio exercises without enthusiasm and tells him to take them seriously. やる becomes やれ in the imperative, so 真面目(まじめ)にやれ is a direct command to make an effort.

Example 10 of 11: Not letting anyone find out with 〜ないようにしろ
Example 10 of 11
Kyo, wearing glasses and a polo shirt, looks toward Taiki with a serious expression during badminton practice. At the right edge of the panel, a shuttlecock flies past an outstretched arm.
アオのハコ » Volume 1 » Page 70

Chinatsu has moved into Taiki’s family’s house. At badminton practice the next day, he’s in high spirits. His friend Kyo is aware of the living arrangement.

匡(きょう):
「浮(う)かれんのもわかるけど」
「同居(どうきょ)のこと周(まわ)りにバレないようにしろよ」
“I get why you're walking on air, but...”
“...make sure nobody around here finds out you two live together.”
View Full Example

Kyo knows that Chinatsu has moved in with Taiki’s family, and he warns Taiki to keep it quiet. する is irregular, and its imperative is しろ. バレないようにしろよ is “make sure nobody finds out”, with よ pressing the point.

Example 11 of 11: Making it so you can walk on water with 〜ようにする
Example 11 of 11
In an inset panel, Sakura holds her wand and stares wide-eyed. Below it, Li stands on the rippling surface of the water, holding a lit candle and looking back over his shoulder. The words 早くこい are written small beside his speech balloon.
カードキャプターさくら » Volume 4 » Page 131

During a test of courage in a cave, Sakura’s classmates vanish one by one. Li senses a Clow Card near the shrine by the spring at the end of the cave, and he lights a candle with fire magic so they can see. The bridge across the water to the shrine has burned. Sakura suggests flying over with the Fly card, but Li says they should approach quietly so the card won’t notice them. He chants a spell, and sparkles swirl around both their feet. Then Li steps out onto the water, and Sakura cries out his name.

桜(さくら):
「それも李(り)君(くん)の魔法(まほう)?」
“Is that your magic too, Li?”
小狼(シャオラン):
「おまえも歩(ある)けるようにした」
「早(はや)くこい」
“I made it so you can walk on it too.”
“Hurry up and come on.”
View Full Example

Li has cast a spell so Sakura can walk on the water too, and he’s already out on it. 早(はや)くこい, “hurry up and come on”, is his aside to her. 来(く)る is irregular, and its imperative is こい.

Urgent Commands

Emergencies strip speech down to the imperative.

Example 1 of 3: Is something there with いんの
Example 1 of 3
Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Is something there with いんの.
名探偵コナン » Volume 9 » Page 11

In a game of hide-and-seek, Conan and Ayumi find they’re hiding on the same bench. Their conversation attracts the seeker, Genta, leading him to find Conan. As Ayumi sneaks away unseen, she signals an apology to Conan.

コナン:
「バカ 早(はや)く隠(かく)れてろ!」
“Stupid, hurry and hide!”
元太(げんた):
「ん? なんかいんのか?」
“Mm? Is something there?”
View Full Example
Example 2 of 3: Ended up relying on your help with 〜てしまう
Example 2 of 3
Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Ended up relying on your help with 〜てしまう.
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 9

After Kudo helps Inspector Megure solve a murder case, he also catches the fleeing culprit.

警察官(けいさつかん):
「さあ、さっさと歩(ある)け!!」
“Come on, hurry up and walk!!”
目暮(めぐれ):
「いやー、また君(きみ)の力(ちから)を借(か)りてしまったな、工藤(くどう)君(くん)!!」
“Man, I ended up relying on your help again, Kudo!!”
View Full Example

Shin’ichi has caught the fleeing culprit, and a police officer marches him off: さあ、さっさと歩(ある)け!!, “come on, hurry up and walk!” 歩(ある)く is godan, and its imperative is 歩(ある)け.

Example 3 of 3: Just shut up with いいから
Example 3 of 3
Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Just shut up with いいから.
名探偵コナン » Volume 24 » Page 160

To allay Haibara’s fears of being recognized at an event, Conan lets her wear his fake glasses as a disguise. After she’s kidnapped, Conan communicates with her through the wireless communication device built into the glasses, in hope of discovering where she’s being held. Once Haibara confirms she cannot escape the room she’s in, she tells Conan to listen carefully and starts listing off the details of her research around the drug that caused the two of them to become children.

コナン:
「おい、やめろ!! んな事(こと)おまえがそこから脱出(だっしゅつ)したら聞(き)いて…」
“Hey, stop it!! I'll listen after we get you out of there...”
灰原:
「いいから黙(だま)って聞(き)きなさいよ!!」
“Just shut up and listen to me!!”
View Full Example

Haibara has been kidnapped, and Conan is talking to her through the transmitter in his glasses. She starts to tell him something, and he cuts her off with やめろ!!, “stop it!” She snaps back with 〜聞(き)きなさいよ!!. なさい is usually the gentler command, but not here.

Battle Cries

Fights run on imperatives, from taunts to finishing moves.

Manga panel from ふらいんぐうぃっち showing example of As if to say try and catch me 〜んばかり.
ふらいんぐうぃっち » Volume 1 » Page 78

Kei and Chinatsu watch as their cousin, Makoto, chases a pheasant back and forth across the field. During a break in the chase, Makoto explains her fascination with the bird.

真琴(まこと):
「常(つね)に届(とど)きそうで届(とど)かない距離(きょり)をキープしてて」
“Constantly seeming like you can reach and keeping a distance you can't...”
「捕(つか)まえてみろよと言(い)わんばかりの目(め)で見(み)てくるんです」
“It's been looking with eyes as if to say, try and catch me!”
View Full Example

Makoto has been chasing a pheasant across a field, and it always stays just out of reach. She imagines it taunting her: 捕(つか)まえてみろよ, “try and catch me”. みる becomes みろ in the classic taunt.

Rough Requests with てくれ

Blunt masculine speech asks favors with 〜てくれ.

Example 1 of 4: Wave for me with 〜てくれる
Example 1 of 4
Manga panel from よつばと! showing example of Wave for me with 〜てくれる.
よつばと! » Volume 1 » Page 8

Yotsuba and her father are driving to their new home. As they pass a school letting out, Yotsuba waves to a student. When the student waves back, Yotsuba tells her father to wave too.

よつば:
「おねーちゃんが手(て)ぇふった! とーちゃんもふれ!」
“The girl waved! Daddy, you wave too!”
父(とう)さん:
「とーちゃん手(て)がはなせないからな俺(おれ)の分(ぶん)もよつばがふってくれ」
“Dad's hands are full, so Yotsuba, please wave for me too.”
View Full Example
Example 2 of 4: If you feel up to kendo with 気が向く
Example 2 of 4
Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of If you feel up to kendo with 気が向く.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 1 » Page 42

A member of the kendo club asks Ayumu to join the club, so they can win the next tournament. Although Ayumu is well known for his kendo prowess in middle school, he’s in the shogi club now, and rejects the request.

生徒(せいと):
「気(き)が向(む)いたら来(き)てくれよな」
“Come by whenever you feel like it.”
「いつでも大歓迎(だいかんげい)だから」
“You're always welcome.”
View Full Example

A kendo club member wants Ayumu on the team, and Ayumu turns him down. 来(き)てくれよな, “come by”, is a friendly てくれ request. よな adds “okay?”, and the next line says he’s always welcome.

Example 3 of 4: Consult us first with 相談
Example 3 of 4
Manga panel from ひとりぼっちの○○生活 showing example of Consult us first with 相談.
ひとりぼっちの○○生活 » Volume 2 » Page 52

While staying in Japan, Sotoka lives alone in the apartment building her parents own. Aru asks if Sotoka isn’t lonely living alone, but Sotoka says it’s all right.

ソトカ:
「大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)じゃなくなったら帰国(きこく)しますし」
“If it gets bad, I'll return to my home country.”
なこ:
「……その前(まえ)に相談(そうだん)してくれよ」
“Before that, consult us first!”
View Full Example

Sotoka lives alone in Japan and says she’ll just go home if things get bad. Nako objects: その前(まえ)に相談(そうだん)してくれよ, “talk to us before that”. てくれ asks the favor bluntly, and よ presses it.

Example 4 of 4: Truth behind the murders with 真相
Example 4 of 4
Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Truth behind the murders with 真相.
名探偵コナン » Volume 15 » Page 35

Conan determines the culprit in a series of murders. However, there’s no one around he can use as a conduit for revealing his reasoning. When Ran scolds Conan for wandering around, he accidentally drops an item Professor Agasa made for him, a wireless phone in the form of a large earring. As Ran picks it up, Conan hides and using his bowtie voice changer to sound like Shin’ichi as he calls Ran on the earring phone. He explains that Conan filled him in on the details.

新一(しんいち):
「そこで、蘭(らん)に頼(たの)みがある…」
“So with that, I have a favor to ask of you...”
蘭:
「頼(たの)み?」
“A favor?”
新一:
「オレの代(か)わりに事件(じけん)の真相(しんそう)をみんなに話(はな)してくれ!」
“In my place, tell everyone the truth of the situation!”
View Full Example

Conan has solved the case but has no one to speak through, so he calls Ran as Shin’ichi. オレの代(か)わりに事件(じけん)の真相(しんそう)をみんなに話(はな)してくれ! is “tell everyone the truth in my place!” てくれ makes it a rough request between old friends.

Gentle Requests with なさい

This is a softened command, and is used socially downward, such as from a parent to a child or from a teacher to a student.

Example 1 of 2: Covered in books with 〜だらけ
Example 1 of 2
Manga panel from この美術部には問題がある! showing example of Covered in books with 〜だらけ.
この美術部には問題がある! » Volume 8 » Page 94

Upon hearing Usami say she’s stopping by the school library, Uchimaki says he wants to go with, and Colette tags along.

内巻(うちまき):
「本(ほん)だらけだ!!」
“It's nothing but books!!”
コレット:
「本屋(ほんや)さんみたいだ!!」
“It's like a book store!!”
宇佐美(うさみ):
「2人(ふたり)とも静(しず)かにしなさい」
“Quiet down, you two.”
View Full Example

Although Usami and Uchimaki are the same age and in the same club, Usami’s command comes across like a teacher scolding a noisy student.

Example 2 of 2: Depressed over a snatched dumpling with 落ち込む
Example 2 of 2
Manga panel from あしたは土曜日 showing example of Depressed over a snatched dumpling with 落ち込む.
あしたは土曜日 » Volume 秋・冬 » Page 37

Yukari doesn’t like carrots, so she offers the ones from her lunch to Mina, who gladly accepts. Mina offers one of her dumplings in return, but Yukari is hesitant to accept because Mina did her a favor by taking the carrots. Sanae takes the opportunity to snatch the dumpling and eat it herself, claiming that neither of the other two seemed to want it. Mina mutters that she never said that.

ユカリ:
「ちょっとサナエ あやまりなよ。」
“Hey, Sanae, apologize.”
「ミナ、落(お)ち込(こ)んじゃったじゃない。」
“Mina's gotten all depressed.”
View Full Example

Sanae snatched the dumpling Mina offered Yukari, and Mina is crushed. Yukari tells Sanae, あやまりなよ, “apologize to her”. 〜な after the verb stem is short for なさい, and よ softens it further.

Signs and Cheers

The imperative also appears impersonally, such as on signs and in cheering.

Example 1 of 2: Receiving an overtaking with 〜れる
Example 1 of 2
Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか? showing example of Receiving an overtaking with 〜れる.
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 39

Chino watches her “grandpa” bread bake alongside Cocoa’s and Chiya’s breads.

チノ:
「おじいちゃんがココアさんと千夜(ちや)さんに抜(ぬ)かされました!」
“Grandpa got passed by Cocoa-san and Chiya-san!”
千夜(ちや):
「おじいちゃんもガンバレー!」
“You can do it too, Grandpa!”
View Full Example

The girls are baking bread, and Chino’s “grandpa” loaf is rising slower than Cocoa’s and Chiya’s. Chiya cheers it on: おじいちゃんもガンバレー! ガンバレ is the imperative of 頑張(がんば)る, in katakana and stretched out like a shout from the stands.

Example 2 of 2: Too light-weight to overcome friction with 摩擦
Example 2 of 2
Manga panel from アオのハコ showing example of Too light-weight to overcome friction with 摩擦.
アオのハコ » Volume 24 » Page 21

With the end of the school year, the sports clubs turn their attention to cleaning the gym. The boys make a race out of wiping the floor. When the girls decide to give it a go, Hina joins in, but she finds herself unable to move forward like the others do. Her attempts to advance only cause her socks to slip, keeping her in place.

匡(きょう):
「体(からだ)軽(かる)すぎて摩擦(まさつ)に負(ま)けてるんだろ」
“I guess she's too light to overcome the friction.”
西田(にしだ):
「もっと踏(ふ)ん張(ば)れ!」
“Dig your feet in harder!”
View Full Example

The boys are racing to wipe the gym floor, and Hina can’t get any traction. Nishida shouts encouragement: もっと踏(ふ)ん張(ば)れ!, “dig in harder!” 踏(ふ)ん張(ば)る is godan, so its imperative ends in れ.

Related Grammar

Supplemental Examples

Try finding this grammar in the following examples: