Diving into Japanese grammar often feels like learning a secret code, and no form is more direct or potent than the imperative tense. This is the language of commands—blunt, powerful, and packed with nuance. Used correctly, it can convey urgency and strength. Used incorrectly, it can be shockingly rude. It’s the form you hear shouted by anime heroes, drill sergeants, and on emergency warning signs.

While it might seem intimidating, the imperative form, or 命令形 (めいれいけい, meireikei), is a fundamental piece of the Japanese language. Mastering its conjugation is surprisingly simple, but understanding its social context is the real challenge. This article will break down the grammar for each verb type, provide clear examples, and, most importantly, explain when—and when not—to use these powerful commands.

Understanding the Imperative Form

In English, making a command is easy: you just use the base verb. “Run!” “Stop!” “Speak!” In Japanese, this requires a specific verb conjugation. The standard imperative form is the strongest and most direct way to give an order. It carries a very harsh, masculine, and often aggressive tone. It implies the speaker has authority over the listener or that the situation is an emergency.

Because of this, you will rarely use it in everyday conversation. However, you absolutely need to understand it, as it’s common in media, warnings, and specific social situations. Learning it is not just about learning to give commands, but about understanding the full spectrum of intent in Japanese.

 
 

Crafting Commands: The Conjugation Rules

The grammar for the imperative form is thankfully very logical. The rules are determined by the verb’s group: Godan (Group 1), Ichidan (Group 2), or Irregular (Group 3).

The imperative for Godan Verbs

For Godan verbs, you simply change the final ‘u’ vowel sound to an ‘e’ vowel sound. The consonant preceding the vowel stays the same. It’s a quick, sharp change that makes the verb sound forceful.

The Rule: Change the final Hiragana character from the ‘u’ column to the ‘e’ column.

Examples:

  • 書く (かく, kaku) → 書け (かけ, kake) – Write!
  • 話す (はなす, hanasu) → 話せ (はなせ, hanase) – Speak!
  • 待つ (まつ, matsu) → 待て (まて, mate) – Wait!
  • 死ぬ (しぬ, shinu) → 死ね (しね, shine) – Die!
  • 呼ぶ (よぶ, yobu) → 呼べ (よべ, yobe) – Call!
  • 読む (よむ, yomu) → 読め (よめ, yome) – Read!
  • 買う (かう, kau) → 買え (かえ, kae) – Buy!
  • 走る (はしる, hashiru) → 走れ (はしれ, hashire) – Run!

The imperative for Ichidan Verbs

Ichidan verbs are even simpler. Their dictionary form always ends in る (ru). To make the command form, you just replace that final る with ろ (ro).

The Rule: Remove the final る (ru) and add ろ (ro).

Examples:

  • 食べる (たべる, taberu) → 食べろ (たべろ, tabero) – Eat!
  • 見る (みる, miru) → 見ろ (みろ, miro) – Look!
  • 起きる (おきる, okiru) → 起きろ (おきろ, okiro) – Wake up!
  • 信じる (しんじる, shinjiru) → 信じろ (しんじろ, shinjiro) – Believe!
  • 出る (でる, deru) → 出ろ (でろ, dero) – Get out!

The imperative for Irregular Verbs:

As always, our two main irregular verbs, する (suru) and 来る (くる, kuru), have unique forms that simply must be memorized. They are extremely common, so learning them is essential.

The Irregulars:

する (suru) → しろ (shiro) or せよ (seyo) – Do it!
Note: しろ (shiro) is more common and conversational. せよ (seyo) is more formal, archaic, and often found in writing, literature, or military contexts.

来る (くる, kuru) → 来い (こい, koi) – Come here!
Crucial Pronunciation: Notice the reading changes completely from “kuru” to “koi”. This is a common point of confusion for learners.

 

Context is Everything: When to Use Commands

Knowing the grammar is only half the battle. Using the imperative form in the wrong situation can cause serious offense. Here’s a guide to its appropriate and inappropriate uses.

  • In Emergencies: When immediate action is required, politeness is secondary. 「逃げろ！」 (にげろ！ – Nigero!) – “Run away!” or 「やめろ！」 (Yamero!) – “Stop it!”
  • Military or Strict Hierarchies: A commander giving orders to a subordinate.
  • Cheering at Sports Events: It is very common to hear fans shouting commands to encourage players. 「走れ！」 (はしれ！ – Hashire!) – “Run!” or the ubiquitous 「頑張れ！」 (がんばれ！ – Ganbare!) – “Do your best! / Go for it!”
  • Road Signs and Public Warnings: Signs often use the imperative for concise, clear instructions, such as 「止まれ」 (とまれ – Tomare) – “Stop.”
  • Extremely Informal Speech: Among very close male friends, it can be used to joke around or be forceful, but this is a delicate social area. 「早くしろ！」 (はやくしろ！ – Hayaku shiro!) – “Hurry up!”
  • In Fiction: Anime, manga, and movies use the imperative constantly for dramatic effect. This is NOT a reflection of how people speak in daily, polite Japanese society.
 

Softer Alternatives for Making Requests

So, if the imperative form is too strong, how do you actually ask someone to do something? Japanese has several other “command-like” forms that are much safer for everyday use.

The Polite Request: ～てください (te kudasai)
This is the first and most important request form you should learn. It’s polite, safe, and can be used in almost any situation.
見てください (Mite kudasai) – Please look.

The Parental/Teacher Command: ～なさい (nasai)
This form is used by superiors to inferiors, typically parents to children or teachers to students. It is firm but not rude in this context.
食べなさい (Tabenasai) – Eat (your food).

The Casual Request: Verb て-form
Using just the て-form of a verb creates a very casual request, like a softened command among friends.
ちょっと待って (Chotto matte) – Wait a sec.

Mastering the imperative form is a key step toward fluency. While you may not use it to give orders yourself very often, understanding its power, its sound, and its place in the language will deepen your comprehension immensely. Learn the rules, respect the context, and you’ll have unlocked one of Japanese’s most expressive grammatical tools.

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