The order (imperative) form in Japanese can be made in several politeness levels. Just note that the casual forms can be seen as very rough and inpolite.
Polite level
The polite level order form is made as an request using the -te form of a verb, and adding kudasai.
- 聞いてください
kiite kudasai
Please listen - 吸わないでください。
suwanaide kudasai
Please do not smoke.
Casual Level
The casual request / order form is just the plain -te form of a word.
- 聞いて。
kiite
Listen. - 吸わないで。
suwanaide
Don’t smoke.
Teinei – Formal Polite Level
When talking teinei, the formal polite language, many words are exchanged to completely different words. Here are some examples of how you can do for words that does not have a special word in teineigo.
- おかけください。
o kake kudasai
Kindly have a seat.
- 御かけにならないでください。
o kake ni naranaide kudasai
Kindly refrain from sitting down.
Rough Orders
Rough orders are done differently depending on the verb group.This form is rarely used except from when fighting, so please be very careful when using it.
-
Group 3 (suru, kuru) : only two examples
yare / yaruna, koi/kuruna - Group 2 (-eru => -ero , -iru => -iro) : Change the end to -ero or -iro respectively for positive orders. For negative orders, just add na after the plain positive form.
- Group 1 (other verbs) : Change the last -u in the plain positive form to -e to make the positive order. For negative orders, just add na after the plain positive form.
Examples
- 聞け！
kike! (from kiku, verb group 1)
Listen! - 座れ！
suware! (from suwaru, verb group 1)
Sit down! - 食べろ！
tabero! (from taberu, verb group 2)
Eat! - 見ろ！
miro! (from miru, verb group 2)
Look! - 来い！
koi! (from kuru, verb group 3)
Come! - ここで吸うな！
koko de suu na.
Don’t smoke!
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5:32 pm on January 28th, 2012
Yes it is. The Japanese, as Shizu explained…Are very polite. You use last name only if you aren’t REALLY good friends for example. So if you don’t know the person at all… (and most people traveling there don’t unless they’ve been pen pals with a Japanese person)…Then you need to stick to the polite terms with that person.
1:52 pm on September 30th, 2009
I’d like to read a little more explanation about teinei form.
10:03 pm on June 25th, 2009
If you’re living in Japan or visiting temporarily and have opportunity to talk with someone, you’d better remember polite one at least, I think. We might not be care even if you use rude expression because you’re foreigner, but some of us might hurt by that.
7:25 pm on June 24th, 2009
is it reeeeeeaaaaaally important 2 learn it??
7:52 am on June 13th, 2009