頼Asking, advising and rules
Please do, please don't
Ask someone to do something, or tell them not to. The right choice depends a lot on who you're talking to.
Do, and don't
With the て form and ない form
Please write your phone number here.
て form + ください
Please don't make calls here.
ない form + で + ください
Politeness scale
From strongest to softest
| Form | Who says it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~な | Blunt, strong “don't” | 入るな |
| ~て | Friends, family | 待って |
| ~なさい | Parent or teacher to a child | 待ちなさい |
| ~てください | Almost anyone | 待ってください |
| どうぞ~てください | Inviting someone to do it | どうぞ座ってください |
| ~てくださいませんか | A gentle request | 待ってくださいませんか |
In use
Requests
Please have a seat.
どうぞ makes it an invitation.
Wait a sec.
With friends, you can drop ください.
Would you mind opening the window?
A negative question is more polite.
Give me a hand.
A rough form, used by some men in very casual speech.
From above
~なさい, for children and students
Don't use it upward. Say ください to a superior.
Go to bed now.
Verb stem + なさい. A parent's tone.
Read the question.
You'll see it in test instructions.
Strong prohibition
~な
Don't touch!
Plain verb + な. A strong, emotional command.
Come on, don't cry.
Adding よ softens it.
The bare command
Orders, shouted or written
These aren't for asking people things. You'll meet them from coaches and angry characters, on road signs like 止まれ, and in quiz or exam instructions. Careful writing can use せよ for しろ and 見よ for 見ろ.
| Verb | Command | Group |
|---|---|---|
| 書く | 書け | Group 1: last sound moves to the え row |
| 食べる | 食べろ | Group 2: る becomes ろ |
| する | しろ | Irregular |
| 来る | 来い (こい) | Irregular |
In use
Heard, not said
Run!
From the sidelines, it's urgent rather than rude.
Get up already!
From a sibling, it's rough but familiar.
Read the following passage.
In a test, it's impersonal.
Check yourself
How polite is this?
Your turn
Which ending fits?
Excuse me, please say it once more.
The bare command
How is it formed?
Drink some water.
Say it yourself
At the museum
You're a guide. Ask visitors to line up here, and ask them politely not to touch the paintings.
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