JLPT N4 · Requests and communication

V命令形

Gives a direct and forceful command

Meaning

The imperative occurs in emergencies, signs, sports calls, and quotations; it sounds harsh in ordinary conversation.

Formation

  1. Group 1: the -u syllable shifts to the -e row: 行く → 行け
  2. Group 2: る → ろ: 逃げる → 逃げろ
  3. Group 3: しろ (せよ), 来い (koi)
  4. Speech, signs and commands only

When to use it

Core use
Gives a direct and forceful command

Examples

16 sentences
  • 次つぎの角かどで止まれとまれ

    Stop at the next corner!

  • もっと急げいそげ

    Hurry up!

  • ここに座れすわれ

    Sit here!

  • よく見ろみろ

    Look carefully!

  • すぐ来いこい

    Come here immediately!

  • 手てを上げろあげろ

    Hands up!

  • あと少しすこしだ、頑張れがんばれ

    Just a little more—hang in there!

8 more examples
  • 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てろすてろ

    Throw away the old magazines!

  • 父ちちに早くはやく寝ろねろと言われましたいわれました

    My father told me to go to bed early.

  • 地震じしんだ、机つくえの下したに入れはいれ

    Earthquake! Get under the desk!

  • もっと速くはやく泳げおよげ

    Swim faster!

  • 車くるまが来るくるぞ、気きをつけろ

    A car is coming—watch out!

  • うるさいな、静かしずかにしろ

    You're so noisy—be quiet!

  • 早くはやく起きろおきろ、学校がっこうに遅れるおくれるぞ

    Get up, or you'll be late for school!

  • 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしろ

    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.

  1. Sentence 1: 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てろすてろ

  2. Sentence 2: 車くるまが来るくるぞ、気きをつけろ

  3. Sentence 3: 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしろ

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