You use this to tell someone to do something. It is a command. Parents might use it with children.
Verb [stem] + なさいPrimary
You use this to tell someone to do something. It is a command. Parents might use it with children.
夕食の時間よ。早く食卓につきなさい。
It's dinnertime. Come to the table quickly.
先生の話をよく聞きなさい。
Listen carefully to what the teacher is saying.
人のものを勝手に使うのはやめなさい。
Stop using other people's things without permission.
子供の頃、祖母に「たくさん食べなさい」といつも言われていた。
When I was a child, my grandmother was always telling me, 'Eat a lot'.
わからないことがあったら、遠慮しないで質問しなさい。
If there's something you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask.
This command is like a parent telling a child what to do. It comes from someone older or in charge. Never use it with someone above you or your friends. That would be very rude.
This command is softer than saying just "do it." But it is a direct order. It is not a polite request like "please do it." You do not use it to say "don't do it."
Don't use this when you want to say "Don't do that." This form is only for telling someone to do something. It does not have a past tense. You cannot say "You were told to do that" using just this form. You must use other words for that.
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