polite command (do it)

Verb stem plus なさい is a firm but not rude command, typical of parents to children and teachers to students. It appears in exam instructions like 答えなさい. It is softer than the imperative but still only for people below or equal to you.

Examples

• 野菜やさいも食たべなさい。

  Yasai mo tabenasai.

  Eat your vegetables too.

• もう遅おそいから、早はやく寝ねなさい。

  Mou osoi kara, hayaku nenasai.

  It is late, so go to bed.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 野菜 vegetable
• 食べる to eat
• なさる to do (honorific)
• もう already; more
• 遅い late; slow
• 早い early

Related patterns · Commands and prohibition

• 命令形（〜ろ / 〜え） direct command (do it!)
• 〜な（禁止） do not do (strong prohibition)