なさい (JLPT N4)

About なさい

なさい is the imperative form of なさる, an honorific language verb which specifically highlights and respects the actions of another person (never the speaker).

Despite being respectful, the fact that this is a 'command' means that it would never be used toward a superior. Due to this, なさい is most frequently used toward peers, or people of lower status, like children.

To use なさい, simply connect it to the ます stem of any verb.

なさい may be shortened further to な, which becomes an even more casual form that is used most frequently toward peers.

Caution

Be careful not to get confused between な (the particle), and な (the shortened form of なさい). These can seem very similar, but な (meaning don't) will always be used with the dictionary form of a verb, while な (meaning please do) will always be used with the ます stem of a verb.

このクッキーを食(た)べな。

You should eat this cookie.
このクッキーを食(た)べるな。

Do not eat this cookie.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

--:--

勉強(べんきょう)しなさい。

Study!

早(はや)く帰(かえ)りなさい。

Hurry up and go home!

野菜(やさい)を食(た)べなさい。

Eat your vegetables!

これをパパに渡(わた)しなさい。

Hand this to your dad.

注意(ちゅうい)しなさい。

Be careful.

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なさい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

Pushindawood
Hey! A similar question popped up in the てあげる thread.

Basically, it won’t change the meaning, but emphasize that the action is a favor.

Cheers!
Donutmancer
This grammar point states: “なさい is the imperative form of なさる”, without further elaboration.
However, the grammar point on the imperative form looks completely different, suggesting that it would be either なされ, or なさろ.
Where does this difference come from?

A similar claim is made for ください in a different grammar point, so It cant be completely irregular either.
nekoyama
なさる and くださる belong to a group of slightly irregular verbs where the imperative and the masu stem end in -ai, together with いらっしゃる and おっしゃる and ござる.