How to Use Imperative Sentences in Japanese?
At some point in your Japanese learning journey, you’ll need to tell someone what to do—politely or directly. That’s where imperative sentences come in. Whether you’re asking someone to wait, sit down, or stop talking, knowing how to form commands in Japanese is essential.
But be warned: Japanese imperative forms can sound very strong, and depending on how you use them, they can come off as rude or aggressive. In this guide, you’ll learn when to use imperative forms, how they change depending on verb type, and how to use them naturally in everyday conversation.
Structure of Imperative Sentences
In English, imperatives are easy: just drop the subject and start with the verb (e.g., “Go!”, “Stop!”, “Eat!”). In Japanese, it’s a bit more nuanced.
There are two main imperative forms in Japanese:
Command form (used in strong, often masculine speech or military context)
Te-form + kudasai (polite request form)
In this article, we’re focusing on the command form —imperatives like "飲め！(Drink!)" or "行け！(Go!)".
The form of the verb will change depending on whether it’s a godan verb, ichidan verb, or irregular verb.
Godan Verbs
Godan verbs (also known as Group I verbs) change the final -u sound to the corresponding -e sound.
Structure:
Change the final kana from the u-row to the e-row equivalent
Examples:
書く (kaku) → 書け (kake) – Write!
ノートに書け！(Nooto ni kake!) – Write it in your notebook!
飲む (nomu) → 飲め (nome) – Drink!
水を飲め！(Mizu o nome!) – Drink the water!
話す (hanasu) → 話せ (hanase) – Speak!
もっと大きな声で話せ！(Motto ookina koe de hanase!) – Speak louder!
行く (iku) → 行け (ike) – Go!
学校に行け！(Gakkou ni ike!) – Go to school!
Ichidan Verbs
Ichidan verbs (Group II verbs) are more predictable. Simply remove the -ru and add -ro.
Structure:
Drop -ru and add -ro
Examples:
食べる (taberu) → 食べろ (tabero) – Eat!
野菜を食べろ！(Yasai o tabero!) – Eat your vegetables!
見る (miru) → 見ろ (miro) – Look!
あそこを見ろ！(Asoko o miro!) – Look over there!
起きる (okiru) → 起きろ (okiro) – Wake up!
早く起きろ！(Hayaku okiro!) – Wake up early!
You may also see the alternate -yo form in classical or written Japanese (e.g., 食べよ), but it’s less common in speech.
Irregular Verbs
Only two verbs in Japanese are irregular: する and くる. Their command forms are:
する → しろ (shiro) – Do it!
くる → こい (koi) – Come!
Examples:
宿題をしろ！(Shukudai o shiro!) – Do your homework!
こっちにこい！(Kocchi ni koi!) – Come here!
FAQs
Is the command form rude in Japanese?
Yes, it is. Use it only among close friends, or when quoting someone. For politeness, use the te-form + kudasai instead (e.g., tabete kudasai – please eat).
Can I use imperative forms in writing?
In writing, imperatives often appear in instructions, manuals, or signage (e.g., "入れ！" on a door = Enter!). In emails or formal writing, always stick with polite language.
What’s the difference between 食べろ and 食べて?
食べろ is a direct command ("Eat!"), while 食べて is the te-form ("Eat and…") often used with ください to make a polite request.
Conclusion
Imperative forms in Japanese grammar can be intense but incredibly useful. Once you understand how to conjugate based on verb groups, you’ll be able to give commands like a native speaker—whether you’re pretending to shout like an anime character or just telling your friend to wait.
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