KANAKUMA

JLPT N4 · Requests and communication

Vます + なさい

A firm instruction to do

Meaning

Gives a direct instruction, often from someone senior to someone junior.

Formation

  1. Drop ます and add なさい: 読みます → 読みなさい
  2. As an instruction, downward: adult to child, teacher to student, exam instructions. Set phrases such as おやすみなさい and ごめんなさい are ordinary polite expressions

When to use it

Core use
A firm instruction to do

Examples

20 sentences

  • 早くはやく寝ねなさい

    Go to bed early.

  • この文章ぶんしょうをもう一度いちど読みよみなさい

    Read this passage once more.

  • 宿題しゅくだいをしなさい

    Do your homework.

  • 食後しょくごに薬くすりを飲みなさいのみなさい

    Take your medicine after the meal.

  • 図書館としょかんでは静かしずかにしなさい

    Be quiet in the library.

  • ご飯ごはんの前まえに手てを洗いなさいあらいなさい

    Wash your hands before eating.

  • 約束やくそくの時間じかんを守りなさいまもりなさい

    Be on time for your appointment.

  • ここに名前なまえを書きなさいかきなさい

    Write your name here.

12 more examples

  • 自分じぶんの部屋へやを片づけなさいかたづけなさい

    Tidy your room.

  • 先生せんせいの話はなしをよく聞きなさいききなさい

    Listen carefully to the teacher.

  • 小さなちいさな荷物にもつを運びはこびなさい

    You are to carry the small luggage.

  • 青いあおい封筒ふうとうを選びえらびなさい

    You are to choose a blue envelope.

  • 古いふるい雑誌ざっしを捨てすてなさい

    You are to throw away the old magazines.

  • 台所だいどころの窓まどを開けあけなさい

    You are to open the kitchen window.

  • 旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見みなさい

    You are to look at the travel photos.

  • 短いみじかい手紙てがみを書きかきなさい

    You are to write a short letter.

  • 友達ともだちの話はなしを聞きききなさい

    You are to listen to my friend's story.

  • 駅えきの名前なまえを覚えおぼえなさい

    You are to memorize the station name.

  • 家いえの鍵かぎを探しさがしなさい

    You are to look for the house key.

  • 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしなさい

    You are to prepare dinner.

Important notes

  • なさい is a directive commonly used by parents or teachers.

Common mistakes

  • Use the ます stem: 読みなさい. It is not a polite request to a superior.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 自分じぶんの部屋へやを片づけなさいかたづけなさい
  2. 旅行りょこうの写真しゃしんを見みなさい
  3. 晩ご飯ばんごはんの準備じゅんびをしなさい

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