なさい — Do (firm command / instruction)
A firm command or instruction attached to the masu-stem. Less harsh than the plain imperative (食べろ) but more authoritative than ください. Typically used by parents and teachers.
Structure
[Verb masu-stem] + なさい
Examples
野菜も食べなさい。
Yasai mo tabenasai.
Eat your vegetables too.
食べ (masu-stem) + なさい = firm instruction
早く起きなさい！学校に遅れるよ。
Hayaku okinasai! Gakkou ni okureru yo.
Get up quickly! You'll be late for school.
起き + なさい = authoritative 'wake up' command
問題をよく読みなさい。
Mondai wo yoku yominasai.
Read the problem carefully.
読み (read, masu-stem) + なさい
• Key Concept: なさい is a softened command form. • Detail: Typically used by parents to children, teachers to students, elders to juniors. • The Negative: do not use なさい to say 'don't'. • Note: Use ないでください or ないこと instead. • Detail: なさる is the honorific form of する; なさい derives from なさる.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones なさい is tested against.
vs てください
てください is a polite request between equals; なさい is a firm downward command from a superior (parent/teacher).
vs 命令形 (食べろ / 書け)
The plain imperative is rough and blunt; なさい is authoritative but sounds more 'proper' and controlled.
More expressions
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