Japanese imperative sentences are used to give commands or make requests in a direct and assertive manner. They are an essential part of everyday communication in Japanese and play a significant role in expressing one’s desires, instructing others, or simply making polite requests. In this introduction, we will explore the structure, usage, and nuances of Japanese imperative sentences, providing example sentences along the way.
Structure of Imperative Sentences:
Japanese imperative sentences typically consist of a verb in its dictionary form, followed by the particle “よ (yo)” or “てください (tekudasai).” The particle “よ (yo)” is used in casual situations or when talking to close friends, family members, or individuals of the same social status. On the other hand, the more polite particle “てください (tekudasai)” is employed when addressing someone of higher social status or in formal settings.
Example Sentences:
a) 食べろ (Tabero) – Eat! (casual)
b) 食べてください (Tabete kudasai) – Please eat. (polite)
Politeness Levels in Imperative Sentences:
In Japanese culture, politeness is highly valued, and the appropriate level of politeness in imperative sentences depends on the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener. Let’s examine the different levels of politeness commonly used in imperative sentences:
a) Casual/Formal Politeness:
In informal or casual situations, imperative sentences can be expressed using plain forms of verbs followed by the particle “よ (yo).” This form is often used when speaking to close friends, siblings, or younger individuals.
Example Sentences:
a) 来い (Koi) – Come! (casual)
b) 待ってよ (Matte yo) – Wait, okay? (casual)
In more formal or polite contexts, imperative sentences use the verb in its polite form, followed by the particle “てください (tekudasai).” This form is used when addressing superiors, strangers, or in business settings.
Example Sentences:
a) 来てください (Kite kudasai) – Please come. (polite)
b) 待ってください (Matte kudasai) – Please wait. (polite)
Softening the Imperative:
Sometimes, it is necessary to soften the tone of an imperative sentence to sound less assertive or demanding. In such cases, the word “ください (kudasai)” is often added to the end of the verb phrase, creating a more polite and indirect request. This is particularly useful when interacting with people of higher status, such as teachers, employers, or strangers.
Example Sentences:
a) 静かにしてください (Shizuka ni shite kudasai) – Please be quiet. (polite)
b) 開けてください (Akete kudasai) – Please open it. (polite)
Negative Imperative Sentences:
Negative imperative sentences are used to express commands or requests in a negative form. To form a negative imperative sentence, the verb in its dictionary form is followed by the negative command form of the auxiliary verb “ない (nai).” This is often combined with the particle “よ (yo)” or “てください (tekudasai)” for the appropriate level of politeness.
Example Sentences:
a) 食べるな (Taberu na) – Don’t eat. (casual)
b) 食べないでください (Tabenaide kudasai) – Please don’t eat. (polite)
Imperative Sentence Endings for Softening:
In order to soften the tone of an imperative sentence further, various sentence endings can be used. These endings add a sense of politeness, humility, or deference, depending on the situation. Let’s look at a few commonly used endings:
a) くださいませ (kudasaimase): This ending is particularly polite and is often used in customer service situations or when addressing clients. It conveys a sense of respect and hospitality.
Example Sentence:
お待ちくださいませ (Omachi kudasaimase) – Please wait, sir/madam. (very polite)
b) なさい (nasai): This ending is used to express a command firmly but with a touch of authority. It is commonly used by parents, teachers, or supervisors when giving instructions.
Example Sentence:
黙りなさい (Damari nasai) – Be quiet! (firm command)
c) ませ (mase): This ending is considered polite and can be used in both casual and formal situations. It is a softer alternative to “なさい (nasai).”
Example Sentence:
お静かになさってください (Oshizuka ni nasatte kudasai) – Please be quiet. (polite)
In conclusion, imperative sentences play a crucial role in Japanese communication, allowing speakers to give commands and make requests. Understanding the appropriate level of politeness and employing the correct sentence structure is essential to convey the intended meaning accurately. By using the examples and guidelines provided in this introduction, beginners can start incorporating imperative sentences into their Japanese language skills and enhance their ability to express themselves effectively in various social contexts.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1: Casual Politeness
Choose the correct casual imperative sentence for the given situation.
Situation: You want to tell your friend to come to your house for a movie night.
a) 来てよ (Kite yo)
b) 来てください (Kite kudasai)
Answer: a) 来てよ (Kite yo)
Explanation: In casual situations with friends, you can use the plain form of the verb followed by “よ (yo)” to give a command. “来てよ (Kite yo)” means “Come!” in a friendly and casual tone, which is suitable for addressing a friend.
Example Sentence: 明日の夜、うちに来てよ (Ashita no yoru, uchi ni kite yo) – Come to my place tomorrow night!
Exercise 2: Formal Politeness
Select the correct polite imperative sentence for the given situation.
Situation: You are requesting your colleague to complete the report before the deadline.
a) 完成しなさい (Kansei shinasai)
b) 完成してください (Kansei shite kudasai)
Answer: b) 完成してください (Kansei shite kudasai)
Explanation: In formal situations, especially when speaking to colleagues or superiors, use the polite form of the verb followed by “てください (tekudasai)” to make a request politely. “完成してください (Kansei shite kudasai)” means “Please complete (it),” and it conveys a polite request.
Example Sentence: 期限までに報告書を完成してください (Kigen made ni houkokusho o kansei shite kudasai) – Please complete the report by the deadline.
Exercise 3: Softening the Imperative
Choose the sentence that softens the imperative appropriately.
Situation: You want to ask your sister to pass you the book.
a) 取って (Totte)
b) 取ってよ (Totte yo)
c) 取ってください (Totte kudasai)
Answer: c) 取ってください (Totte kudasai)
Explanation: To soften the tone of the imperative and make it more polite, add “ください (kudasai)” to the verb. “取ってください (Totte kudasai)” means “Please pass (it),” which is a polite and indirect way to make a request.
Example Sentence: 本を取ってください (Hon o totte kudasai) – Please pass me the book.
Exercise 4: Negative Imperative
Choose the correct negative imperative sentence.
Situation: You want to tell your friend not to drink alcohol at the party.
a) 飲むな (Nomu na)
b) 飲まないで (Nomaide)
c) 飲むなよ (Nomu na yo)
Answer: b) 飲まないで (Nomaide)
Explanation: To form a negative imperative sentence, use the plain negative form of the verb without “よ (yo).” “飲まないで (Nomaide)” means “Don’t drink,” and it is an appropriate way to give a negative command.
Example Sentence: パーティーでアルコールは飲まないで (Paatii de arukooru wa nomaide) – Don’t drink alcohol at the party.
Exercise 5: Polite Imperative Sentence Ending
Choose the appropriate polite ending for the imperative sentence.
Situation: You want to politely ask your teacher to explain the lesson again.
a) 説明して (Setsumei shite)
b) 説明してください (Setsumei shite kudasai)
c) 説明しなさい (Setsumei shinasai)
Answer: b) 説明してください (Setsumei shite kudasai)
Explanation: To make the imperative sentence more polite, add the polite ending “ください (kudasai)” to the verb. “説明してください (Setsumei shite kudasai)” means “Please explain,” and it is a polite way to make a request.
Example Sentence: もう一度、この授業の説明をしてください (Mou ichido, kono jugyou no setsumei o shite kudasai) – Please explain this lesson again.
Exercise 6: Casual Politeness
Choose the appropriate casual imperative sentence for the given situation.
Situation: You want to ask your sibling to wait for you.
a) 待って (Matte)
b) 待ってよ (Matte yo)
Answer: b) 待ってよ (Matte yo)
Explanation: In casual situations with siblings or close friends, use the plain form of the verb followed by “よ (yo)” to give a command. “待ってよ (Matte yo)” means “Wait, okay?” in a friendly and casual tone.
Example Sentence: 少し待ってよ (Sukoshi matte yo) – Wait a moment, okay?
Exercise 7: Formal Politeness
Select the correct polite imperative sentence for the given situation.
Situation: You are asking a customer to fill out a form.
a) 書きなさい (Kakinasai)
b) 書いてください (Kaite kudasai)
Answer: b) 書いてください (Kaite kudasai)
Explanation: In formal situations, especially when addressing customers or clients, use the polite form of the verb followed by “てください (tekudasai)” to make a polite request. “書いてください (Kaite kudasai)” means “Please write,” and it is a polite way to give a command.
Example Sentence: この用紙に必要事項を書いてください (Kono youshi ni hitsuyou jikou o kaite kudasai) – Please write the necessary information on this form.
Exercise 8: Softening the Imperative
Choose the sentence that softens the imperative appropriately.
Situation: You want to ask your friend to lend you their pen.
a) 貸して (Kashite)
b) 貸してよ (Kashite yo)
c) 貸してください (Kashite kudasai)
Answer: c) 貸してください (Kashite kudasai)
Explanation: To soften the tone of the imperative and make it more polite, add “ください (kudasai)” to the verb. “貸してください (Kashite kudasai)” means “Please lend (it),” which is a polite and indirect way to make a request.
Example Sentence: ペンを貸してください (Pen o kashite kudasai) – Please lend me your pen.
Exercise 9: Negative Imperative
Choose the correct negative imperative sentence.
Situation: You want to tell your friend not to touch the fragile vase.
a) 触るな (Sawaru na)
b) 触らないで (Sawaranaide)
c) 触るなよ (Sawaru na yo)
Answer: b) 触らないで (Sawaranaide)
Explanation: To form a negative imperative sentence, use the plain negative form of the verb without “よ (yo).” “触らないで (Sawaranaide)” means “Don’t touch,” and it is an appropriate way to give a negative command.
Example Sentence: その割れ物の花瓶に触らないで (Sono waremono no kabin ni sawaranaide) – Don’t touch that fragile vase.
Exercise 10: Polite Imperative Sentence Ending
Choose the appropriate polite ending for the imperative sentence.
Situation: You want to politely ask a stranger to help you find a location.
a) 手伝って (Tetsudatte)
b) 手伝ってください (Tetsudatte kudasai)
c) 手伝いなさい (Tetsudai nasai)
Answer: b) 手伝ってください (Tetsudatte kudasai)
Explanation: To make the imperative sentence more polite, add the polite ending “ください (kudasai)” to the verb. “手伝ってください (Tetsudatte kudasai)” means “Please help,” and it is a polite way to make a request.
Example Sentence: この場所を探すのを手伝ってください (Kono basho o sagasu no o tetsudatte kudasai) – Please help me find this location.
Originally posted 2023-07-20 04:36:51.