Japanese Imperative Form: Mastering Casual Commands (Meireikei)

In Japanese, politeness is usually the default. You often use ~te kudasai to ask for things. But the imperative form strips all that away. It turns a verb into a raw command. There is no "please" here. It is just the verb in its shortest, sharpest form. It sounds very masculine in traditional contexts. However, anyone can use it in the right situation. It is all about the power dynamic. Or sometimes, it is about the lack of time. If a car is coming, you don't say "Please move." You shout "Move!" That is what this form is for. It is efficient. It is loud. It is unmistakable.

1. 1Conjugating verbs into the imperative form is a bit like a puzzle. But don't worry. Once you see the pattern, it clicks. Here is how you do it:
2. 2For Group 1 (U-verbs): Change the last u sound to an e sound.
3. 3iku (to go) becomes ike (Go!).
4. 4hanasu (to speak) becomes hanase (Speak!).
5. 5nomu (to drink) becomes nome (Drink!).
6. 6For Group 2 (Ru-verbs): Replace the final ru with ro.
7. 7taberu (to eat) becomes tabero (Eat!).
8. 8miru (to see) becomes miro (Look!).
9. 9neru (to sleep) becomes nero (Sleep!).
10. 10For Irregular Verbs: You just have to memorize these two.
11. 11suru (to do) becomes shiro (Do it!). Note: In formal writing or slogans, you might see seyo.
12. 12kuru (to come) becomes koi (Come here!).
13. 13Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are in a hurry. But for you, it will become second nature soon.

When is it okay to be this bossy? There are specific times. First, use it in emergencies. "Run!" is nigero. "Stop!" is tomare. Second, use it in sports. Coaches shout ute (Shoot!) or hashire (Run!). Third, use it with very close male friends. It shows a rough, brotherly bond. Fourth, you will see it in slogans. "Study hard!" might be benkyou shiro. Fifth, it appears in manuals or exams. It gives clear instructions without wasting words. Finally, use it when you are truly angry. If someone is bothering you, damare (Shut up!) works wonders. Just be careful. Words have power.

This is the most important section. Do not use this with your boss. Do not use it with teachers. Do not use it with strangers. Unless you want a one-way ticket to the HR office, keep it casual. It is generally considered very rude in polite society. Women traditionally avoid this form in daily life. They might use ~nasai instead. Using Meireikei incorrectly can make you sound like a movie villain. Or a very grumpy toddler. Use it only when the situation demands total directness. When in doubt, stick to ~te kudasai. It is better to be too polite than accidentally aggressive.

One big mistake is mixing up Group 1 and Group 2. Don't say tabere. It must be tabero. Another mistake is using it to be "cool." It often backfires. You might just sound mean. Some people also forget the irregulars. Saying kure instead of koi is a common slip. Also, watch your intonation. A flat ike sounds like a command. A rising ike? sounds like a confused question. Remember, this form is a hammer. Don't use a hammer when you need a screwdriver. Use it for commands, not for casual requests.

How does this differ from other commands? Let's look at ~nasai. Tabenasai is what a mother says to a child. It is firm but caring. Tabero is what a drill sergeant says. It is a raw order. Then there is ~te kure. This is a casual request between friends. Tabete kure means "Eat this for me." It is much softer than tabero. Finally, there is the negative command ~na. Taberu na means "Don't eat." The imperative form is for "Do." The ~na form is for "Don't." They are two sides of the same bossy coin.