命 令 形(めいれいけい)

めいれいけい

noun

imperative form; command form

1. imperative form; command form

In grammar, the verb form used to give direct commands or orders. In Japanese, formed by changing the verb ending (e.g., 食(た)べろ, 行(い)け).

命令形(めいれいけい)は強(つよ)い口調(くちょう)になる。

The imperative form sounds forceful.

「行(い)く」の命令形(めいれいけい)は「行(い)け」です。

The imperative form of 'iku' is 'ike.'

日本語(にほんご)の命令形(めいれいけい)は男性(だんせい)が使(つか)うことが多(おお)く、女性(じょせい)は丁寧(ていねい)な表現(ひょうげん)を好(この)む。

The Japanese imperative form is more commonly used by men, while women tend to prefer polite expressions.

A grammar term composed of 命令(めいれい) (command, order) and 形(けい) (form). Refers to the conjugated form of Japanese verbs used for direct commands.

Imperative form by verb type

一段(いちだん) verbs: stem + ろ (食(た)べる → 食(た)べろ)
五段(ごだん) verbs: え-row ending (行(い)く → 行(い)け, 読(よ)む → 読(よ)め)
する → しろ
来(く)る → 来(こ)い

Common collocations

命令形(めいれいけい)に変(か)える: to change into the imperative form
命令形(めいれいけい)で言(い)う: to say in the imperative form
命令形(めいれいけい)の活用(かつよう): conjugation of the imperative form

Usage

The bare imperative is considered rough and masculine in Japanese. It appears in sports cheering, emergency situations, and casual male speech. In formal or polite contexts, ～てください or ～なさい is used instead.

Related words

肯定形(こうていけい): affirmative form
否定形(ひていけい): negative form
活用形(かつようけい): conjugated form — the general term for all verb forms
命令(めいれい): command, order — the base noun

Related Words

Related: 命令(めいれい) (order, command)

Related: 肯定形(こうていけい) (affirmative form)

Related: 否定形(ひていけい) (negative form)

Related: 未然形(みぜんけい) (irrealis form)

Related: 終止形(しゅうしけい) (terminal form)

Related: 連体形(れんたいけい) (attributive form)

Compare: 命令文(めいれいぶん) (imperative sentence)

general

Added 2026.4.8 16:47 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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