Meaning
The imperative occurs in emergencies, signs, sports calls, and quotations; it sounds harsh in ordinary conversation.
Formation
- Group 1: the -u syllable shifts to the -e row: 行く → 行け
- Group 2: る → ろ: 逃げる → 逃げろ
- Group 3: しろ (せよ), 来い (koi)
- Speech, signs and commands only
When to use it
- Core use
- Gives a direct and forceful command
Examples
16 sentences-
危ないから逃げろ
It is dangerous—run!
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次の角で止まれ
Stop at the next corner!
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もっと急げ
Hurry up!
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ここに座れ
Sit here!
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よく見ろ
Look carefully!
-
すぐ来い
Come here immediately!
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手を上げろ
Hands up!
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あと少しだ、頑張れ
Just a little more—hang in there!
8 more examples
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古い雑誌を捨てろ
Throw away the old magazines!
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父に早く寝ろと言われました
My father told me to go to bed early.
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地震だ、机の下に入れ
Earthquake! Get under the desk!
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もっと速く泳げ
Swim faster!
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車が来るぞ、気をつけろ
A car is coming—watch out!
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うるさいな、静かにしろ
You're so noisy—be quiet!
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早く起きろ、学校に遅れるぞ
Get up, or you'll be late for school!
-
晩ご飯の準備をしろ
Prepare dinner!
Important notes
- Plain imperatives are direct and can sound rough; they also occur inside quotations.
Common mistakes
- Group 1 uses the e-row (書け), group 2 uses ろ (食べろ); 来る becomes 来い (こい).
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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