Learn Japanese Grammar: なさい (nasai) – Giving Gentle Commands

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Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Used to give a relatively soft command or instruction.

🎯 Primary Function

To instruct someone considered an inferior (like a child or student) to perform an action.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb ます-stem + なさい (Irregular verbs: する → しなさい, 来る (くる) → 来なさい (きなさい))

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Generally not used in formal situations between adults.

😊 Informal Situations

Common in family settings (parent to child), educational settings (teacher to student).

✍️ Written Language

Less common, primarily appears in dialogue or when quoting speech.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Frequently used in spoken Japanese in appropriate contexts.

💡 Common Applications

Instructions from parent to child
Used by parents to tell their children to do something.
Example: 早く寝なさい。(Hayaku nenasai.) – Go to bed early.
Instructions from teacher to student
Used by teachers to tell students to perform tasks or behave in a certain way.
Example: この本を読みなさい。(Kono hon o yominasai.) – Read this book.
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Frequency
Relatively common in specific hierarchical social contexts (family, school).
🎚️
Difficulty
Easy – Once the context and conjugation are understood, it is straightforward.
Example Sentences
早く寝なさい。
Go to bed early.
この本を読みなさい。
Read this book.
ご飯をちゃんと食べなさい。
Eat your meal properly.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Softer than plain imperative
なさい is less forceful and direct than the plain imperative form (e.g., 食べろ).
Example: 食べろ (Eat! – strong) vs. 食べなさい (Eat – gentle command)
Implies hierarchical relationship
It is used by someone in a superior position (parent, teacher) towards someone considered inferior (child, student). It is generally rude to use it towards equals or superiors.
Example: Using it to a boss would be highly inappropriate.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using なさい towards equals or superiors.
✅ Use ～てください or other polite request forms instead.
なさい implies authority or care over the listener, making it inappropriate for peers or seniors.
❌ Confusing it with the plain imperative.
✅ Remember that なさい is formed from the ます-stem, while the plain imperative has different conjugations depending on the verb group.
While both are command forms, their usage contexts and conjugation methods are different.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Less polite than ～てください, but more polite than the plain imperative. It carries a sense of authority or familiar instruction.
Social Situations: Predominantly used in domestic (family) and educational settings where clear superior/inferior relationships exist.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan, though frequency might vary slightly.

🔍 Subtle Differences

なさい vs. Plain Imperative (命令形)
なさい is a milder command, often used with children or students. Plain imperative is a stronger, more direct command, sometimes considered rough or used among close male friends.
When to use: Use なさい when giving a gentle instruction from a superior to an inferior (parent to child, teacher to student). Use plain imperative in very informal contexts among peers (male speech), or when a strong, direct command is needed (e.g., emergency).
なさい vs. ～てください
なさい is a command from a superior. ～てください is a polite request usable in many situations, including towards superiors or equals.
When to use: Use なさい when you are in a position to instruct someone below you and want a softer command than the plain imperative. Use ～てください when making a general polite request, regardless of the listener’s status (unless they are a very close friend where plain form is okay).
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Formed by removing ます from the ます-form and adding なさい. Irregular verbs する becomes しなさい and 来る (くる) becomes きなさい.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced なさい (nasai). The stress is typically on the second syllable (sa).

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of a mother telling her child “Do your homework *nasai*!” (しゅくだいをしなさい！) – associates it with parental instructions.

Practice Exercises
Choose the correct form for “Please drink this” (gentle command from teacher to child).
飲むろ
飲んでください
飲みなさい
飲まないで
Who would most likely say “早く寝なさい”？
A student to their teacher
A colleague to a colleague
A child to their parent
A parent to their child

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