命令形（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ） (めいれいけい（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ）): This is a command form. It tells someone what to do directly. It is very informal and strong.

Dictionary

命令形（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ）

This is a command form. It tells someone what to do directly. It is very informal and strong.

N4 KMT4RoughStandardVerb ConstructionMixedMasculineBlunt ImperativesGrammar

Verb [imperative form]Primary

This is a command form. It tells someone what to do directly. It is very informal and strong.

ぐずぐずしないで、早くしろ！

Don't dawdle, hurry up!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationDaily Life

いいから黙れ！俺の話を聞け！

Just shut up! Listen to what I have to say!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationAnime & Manga

隊長に「全員、持ち場に戻れ」と命令された。

We were ordered by the captain, 'Everyone, return to your posts'.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMilitary

がんばれ！ゴールはすぐそこだ！

Go for it! The finish line is right there!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticSports & Martial Arts

この非常ボタンは、危険を感じた時にだけ押せ。

Push this emergency button only when you feel you are in danger.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityTechnology

This form is very strong. It can sound rough or angry. Men use it more often. Women rarely use it. It is like a shout, not a polite request.

This command is very strong. Other forms are softer. For example, '〜なさい' is a gentle command from a teacher. The '〜て' form is a casual request for friends. To say "don't do this," you use '〜な', not this form.

Don't use this when you talk to your boss. For example, do not say "やれ" (Do it!) to them. This form is very strong. It is often rude. Use it only with close friends. Or use it in emergencies. You might see it on signs too.

Use this when you want to give a very strong order. It is for signs, instructions, or cheering. It shows something is important or urgent. It is not for talking to people politely.

Contrasts with(2)

〜な

This is a very strong way to say "Don't do that." It is a direct command telling someone to stop or not do something.

〜なされ

This is a very old way to tell someone to do something. It means 'do it' or 'you must do it'. It comes from a polite verb.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜やがれ

This is a very angry way to tell someone to do something. You use it when you really dislike or are mad at the person.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜なさい

You use this to tell someone to do something. It is a command. Parents might use it with children.

〜て

This is a casual way to tell someone what to do. It is like giving a direct order to a friend.

Verb [imperative form] (e-ending / ろ / よ)

This is how you tell someone to do something. It is a very strong command. You should be careful when you use it.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜て

This is a casual way to tell someone what to do. It is like giving a direct order to a friend.

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Dictionary

命令形（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ）

This is a command form. It tells someone what to do directly. It is very informal and strong.

N4 KMT4RoughStandardVerb ConstructionMixedMasculineBlunt ImperativesGrammar

Verb [imperative form]Primary

This is a command form. It tells someone what to do directly. It is very informal and strong.

ぐずぐずしないで、早くしろ！

Don't dawdle, hurry up!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationDaily Life

いいから黙れ！俺の話を聞け！

Just shut up! Listen to what I have to say!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingObligationAnime & Manga

隊長に「全員、持ち場に戻れ」と命令された。

We were ordered by the captain, 'Everyone, return to your posts'.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeMilitary

がんばれ！ゴールはすぐそこだ！

Go for it! The finish line is right there!

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingEmphaticSports & Martial Arts

この非常ボタンは、危険を感じた時にだけ押せ。

Push this emergency button only when you feel you are in danger.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingNecessityTechnology

This form is very strong. It can sound rough or angry. Men use it more often. Women rarely use it. It is like a shout, not a polite request.

Use this when you want to give a very strong order. It is for signs, instructions, or cheering. It shows something is important or urgent. It is not for talking to people politely.

Contrasts with(2)

〜な

This is a very strong way to say "Don't do that." It is a direct command telling someone to stop or not do something.

〜なされ

This is a very old way to tell someone to do something. It means 'do it' or 'you must do it'. It comes from a polite verb.

More formal alternatives(1)

〜やがれ

This is a very angry way to tell someone to do something. You use it when you really dislike or are mad at the person.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜なさい

You use this to tell someone to do something. It is a command. Parents might use it with children.

〜て

This is a casual way to tell someone what to do. It is like giving a direct order to a friend.

Verb [imperative form] (e-ending / ろ / よ)

This is how you tell someone to do something. It is a very strong command. You should be careful when you use it.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜て

This is a casual way to tell someone what to do. It is like giving a direct order to a friend.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

命令形（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ）

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with5

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

命令形（めいれいけい・〜ろ / 〜よ）

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with5

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(1)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery