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N4

Casual Commands and Prohibitions

Understand direct commands, softer casual requests, and strong prohibitions in speech, signs, and manga-style dialogue.

Recognize imperative verb forms and strong negative commands.Distinguish direct commands from softer casual requests.Interpret tone and relationship from command language.
Guided study

Direct command forms

Imperative forms such as 行け, 座れ, and 来い are direct and strong. They are used in orders, emotional speech, sports, military-style language, and some very close relationships. They are not neutral default Japanese.

早く来い。

Come quickly.

ここに座れ。

Sit here.

最後までがんばれ。

Keep trying until the end.

Practice guides for this lesson

Use these hub pages to connect this lesson with related reading practice and grammar paths.