Learn Japanese with Masa sensei!

Episode 83 - How do mother or teacher tell kids to "do this!!" (stem + nasai)


Listen Later

- Check my video for more details! -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4tXuGwviHU&t=216s

==========================================================

なさい (nasai). Meaning: do this (soft/firm command).

“nasai” is the polite command form in Japanese and is used in a variety of formal situations. You can use “nasai” when you are giving an order to someone younger or of lower status than yourself.


It is used in combination with a Verb’s stem form and can only be used with a positive Verb.


食べます → 食べなさい

tabemasu → tabenasai

Eat your food. (command)


飲みます Nomimasu → 飲みなさい nominasai

します Shimasu → しなさい shinasai

聞きます kikimasu → 聞きなさい kikinasai

言います iimasu → 言いなさい iinasai


野菜を食べなさい

Yasai wo tabenasai

 Eat your vegetables


Take a look at these example sentences below to see the type of situations where you can use なさい。

Imagine that you are a teacher and you want to firmly tell your student to answer a question, you could say.


この問題に答えなさい

Kono mondai ni kotaenasai

Answer to this question.


For the next situation, imagine that you are a mother and your child has come in with something they are dying to tell you. They want to tell you so much that they are speaking to fast. You can say:


ゆっくり話しなさい。

Yukkuri hanashinasai

Speak slowly.


Now it’s late, you need to tell your child that it’s time to go to bed. You can politely command them to do so with:


もう寝なさい。

Mou nenasai

Go to bed now.


In addition, 〜なさい is commonly used in questions on exams. If you have taken Japanese tests before, you have probably seen 〜なさい more than a couple of times.


正解を選びなさい。

Seikai o erabinasai

Choose the correct answer.


In conversation, the last さい may be dropped to just be な.

Ex) 

食べな

tabena

Eat your food. 



もう寝な。

Mou nena

Go to bed now.


===============================================

Check out my Youtube Channel!

Wanna support me?

===============================================

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Learn Japanese with Masa sensei!By Masa Sensei

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

98 ratings


More shows like Learn Japanese with Masa sensei!

View all
Learn Japanese | JapanesePod101.com (Audio) by JapanesePod101.com

Learn Japanese | JapanesePod101.com (Audio)

628 Listeners

Let’s Talk in Japanese! by Tomo

Let’s Talk in Japanese!

128 Listeners

YUYUの日本語Podcast【Japanese Podcast】 by YUYU NIHONGO

YUYUの日本語Podcast【Japanese Podcast】

172 Listeners

Easy Japanese: Conversation Lessons | NHK WORLD-JAPAN by NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Easy Japanese: Conversation Lessons | NHK WORLD-JAPAN

110 Listeners

Learn Japanese with Noriko by Japanese with Noriko

Learn Japanese with Noriko

96 Listeners

日本語の聴解のためのPodcast by あかね的日本語教室

日本語の聴解のためのPodcast

71 Listeners

Everyday Japanese Podcast by Sayuri Saying

Everyday Japanese Podcast

83 Listeners

N3~N1日本語!Haru no Nihongo by Haruka

N3~N1日本語!Haru no Nihongo

75 Listeners

EASY JAPANESE PODCAST by MASA and ASAMI

EASY JAPANESE PODCAST

72 Listeners

Japanese with Shun by Shunsuke Otani

Japanese with Shun

151 Listeners

The Miku Real Japanese Podcast | Japanese conversation | Japanese culture by Miku

The Miku Real Japanese Podcast | Japanese conversation | Japanese culture

309 Listeners

The Bite size Japanese Podcast by Layla from Bite Size Japanese

The Bite size Japanese Podcast

97 Listeners

Oyasumi Japanese with Shun by Japanese with Shun

Oyasumi Japanese with Shun

48 Listeners

Learn Japanese with Japanese Made Easy by Japanese Made Easy Podcast

Learn Japanese with Japanese Made Easy

56 Listeners

Japanese Podcast with Hana by Hana

Japanese Podcast with Hana

15 Listeners