JAPANESE STUDY SYSTEMKOTOWA 词和
N5 — N1
READING CONTROL
Vocabulary collection7,811
Kanji collection2,383
SOURCE SELECTOR
Grammar collection0526
SILVER ERA · ことばを、少しずつ。
JLPT BANDN5 BEGINNER → N1 ADVANCED

〜なさい

N4
nasai

do (instruction from a parent, teacher, etc.)

Formation

Verb-stem + なさい

Chinese meanings

做吧;请做(指示)

Chinese formation

动词ます形词干+なさい

Chinese usage

用于家长、老师或试题等发出明确指示。

Chinese notes

比命令形缓和,但仍较直接,不用于上级。

Examples

  • もう九く時じよ。早はやく寝ねなさい。
    It's already nine. Go to bed now.
    已经九点了,快去睡觉。
  • 次つぎの文ぶんを読よんで、質しつ問もんに答こたえなさい。
    Read the following passage and answer the questions.
    阅读下面的文章并回答问题。
  • ご飯はんの前まえに手てを洗あらいなさい。
    Wash your hands before eating.
    吃饭前洗手。

Notes

Softer than the imperative form but still a firm instruction; used by parents, teachers and in exam directions, never toward superiors.

#command

Related N4 grammar

Suggest an improvement

Use this entry in code
import { getGrammarById } from 'kotowa';
getGrammarById('nasai');
{
  "id": "nasai",
  "pattern": "〜なさい",
  "romaji": "nasai",
  "level": "N4",
  "meaning": "do (instruction from a parent, teacher, etc.)",
  "formation": "Verb-stem + なさい",
  "examples": [
    {
      "ja": "もう九時よ。早く寝なさい。",
      "furigana": "もう{九|く}{時|じ}よ。{早|はや}く{寝|ね}なさい。",
      "en": "It's already nine. Go to bed now."
    },
    {
      "ja": "次の文を読んで、質問に答えなさい。",
      "furigana": "{次|つぎ}の{文|ぶん}を{読|よ}んで、{質問|しつもん}に{答|こた}えなさい。",
      "en": "Read the following passage and answer the questions."
    },
    {
      "ja": "ご飯の前に手を洗いなさい。",
      "furigana": "ご{飯|はん}の{前|まえ}に{手|て}を{洗|あら}いなさい。",
      "en": "Wash your hands before eating."
    }
  ],
  "tags": [
    "command"
  ],
  "notes": "Softer than the imperative form but still a firm instruction; used by parents, teachers and in exam directions, never toward superiors.",
  "zh": {
    "status": "reviewed",
    "source_hash": "e0c17b7d0da042d7cda1a639c0809a960c783d3ccc91c4ccdf632ebb1521db6e",
    "meanings": [
      "做吧",
      "请做(指示)"
    ],
    "formation": "动词ます形词干+なさい",
    "explanation": "用于家长、老师或试题等发出明确指示。",
    "notes": "比命令形缓和,但仍较直接,不用于上级。",
    "examples": [
      {
        "ja": "もう九時よ。早く寝なさい。",
        "zh": "已经九点了,快去睡觉。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "次の文を読んで、質問に答えなさい。",
        "zh": "阅读下面的文章并回答问题。"
      },
      {
        "ja": "ご飯の前に手を洗いなさい。",
        "zh": "吃饭前洗手。"
      }
    ],
    "references": [
      "sources/grammar/n4.json#nasai",
      "Original Chinese authored and reviewed by Codex; no independent human review"
    ],
    "reviewer": "Codex",
    "review_method": "ai",
    "reviewed_at": "2026-10-28",
    "review_hash": "b47b90b23e8558cf691be81db5fd1a929d1a859edc316b79f9e747eca6f98fdf"
  }
}