命令形 (imperative)

• 読み: めいれいけい
• ローマ字: meireikei
• 形: Godan: Verb -u → -e (飲む→飲め) / Ichidan: Verb -ru → -ro (食べる→食べろ) / Negative: Verb dictionary form + な
• 漢字の分解: 命令 (command) + 形 (form)

意味

The imperative form of a verb is used to give direct commands. It is a blunt, forceful expression typically used in urgent situations, by superiors, or in masculine casual speech.

Japanese has a dedicated verb conjugation for commands: the imperative form (命令形). For godan verbs, the final -u becomes -e (飲む→飲め); for ichidan verbs, -ru becomes -ro (食べる→食べろ). The imperative is considered very direct and can sound rude in normal conversation. It is most commonly heard in emergencies, sports coaching, military contexts, or rough masculine speech. Women and polite speakers typically avoid it in favour of てください or て-form requests. Negative commands use the dictionary form + な (行くな 'don't go'). Some set phrases like がんばれ (do your best) are socially acceptable imperatives.

例文

1. もっと早く走れ！
2. ここに座れ。
3. 黙って聞け。

使い方ガイド

場面: spoken, sports, emergencies

トーン: commanding

正しい言い方

• 最後まであきらめるな！
• すぐにここから出ろ！
• がんばれ、あと少しだ！

避ける言い方

• 先生、これを読め。(Using imperative toward a teacher is extremely rude) → 先生、これを読んでください。
• すみません、ここに来い。(Mixing polite すみません with the blunt imperative is contradictory) → すみません、ここに来てください。
• お母さん、早く作れ。(Using imperative toward a parent sounds disrespectful) → お母さん、早く作って。

起源と歴史

The imperative form descends from the classical Japanese 命令形, one of the six fundamental verb conjugation categories that have existed since Old Japanese.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal