Japanese

Suffix

なさい ‎(romaji -nasai)

1. (informal) combines with the verb stem to create an imperative as a kind of strong request

   よく聞 (き)きなさい！

   Yoku kikinasai!

   Listen up! (as to a child or spouse)

   ここに名前 (なまえ)を書 (か)きなさい。

   Koko ni namae o kakinasai.

   Write your name here.

   あの猫 (ねこ)を見 (み)なさい。

   Ano neko o minasai.

   Watch that cat.

Usage notes

This is a suffix, attaching to the 連用形 ‎(ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verbs.

This is stronger than a simple request, and is considered somewhat informal. This may be used as a way of issuing a command, such as a teacher prompting a student to pay attention, or a parent scolding a child.

Unlike 下さい (​kudasai), -nasai can only be used to make positive commands, never negative commands.

Synonyms

• (imperative): な (​na)
• (request): 下さい (ください, ​kudasai); 頂戴 (ちょうだい, ​chōdai)

Derived terms

• お帰りなさい (okaerinasai)
• お休みなさい (oyasuminasai)

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9