Imperative て-Form — Japanese Grammar

The (teteてテ)-form of a verb is a key component for making commands and requests. The level of politeness is determined by what follows the (teteてテ)-form, making it a flexible and essential pattern for communication.

Informal Commands: The Plain て (te)-Form

Using the (teteてテ)-form by itself creates a direct, informal command. This form is appropriate only with people you are very close to, such as family and close friends, or when speaking to someone of a lower social status, like a child. Using it with strangers, colleagues, or superiors would be considered rude.

これを食べて。
kore o tabete.kore o tabete.これをたべて.コレヲタベテ.
Eat this.
窓を閉めて。
mado o shimete.mado o simete.まどをしめて.マドヲシメテ.
Close the window.
こっちに来て。
kotchi ni kite.kotchi ni kite.こundefined にきて.コundefined ニキテ.
Come here.

To soften this informal command slightly, you can add sentence-ending particles like (neneねネ) or (yoyoよヨ).

ちょっと手伝ってね。
chotto tetsudatte ne.tyotto tetsudatte ne.ちょっとてつだってね.チョットテツダッテネ.
Help me out for a bit, okay?

Polite Requests: て (te)-Form + ください (kudasai)

To make a polite request that can be used in most social situations, add (kudasaikudasaiくださいクダサイ) after the verb's (teteてテ)-form. This is the standard and safest way to ask someone to do something. It is equivalent to adding "please" in English.

ここに名前を書いてください。
koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.ここになまえをかいてください.ココニナマエヲカイテクダサイ.
Please write your name here.
このバスに乗ってください。
kono basu ni notte kudasai.kono basu ni notte kudasai.このばすにのってください.コノバスニノッテクダサイ.
Please get on this bus.
もう一度説明してください。
mō ichido setsumei shite kudasai.mô itido setsumei site kudasai.もういちどせつめいしてください.モウイチドセツメイシテクダサイ.
Please explain it one more time.

Negative Requests: ないでください (naide kudasai)

To ask someone *not* to do something, you use the plain negative form of the verb (the (nainaiないナイ)-form), followed by (dedeでデ) and then (kudasaikudasaiくださいクダサイ). The structure is: Verb ( (nainaiないナイ)-form) + (de kudasaide kudasaiでくださいデクダサイ).

ここで写真を撮らないでください。
koko de shashin o toranaide kudasai.koko de syasin o toranaide kudasai.ここでしゃしんをとらないでください.ココデシャシンヲトラナイデクダサイ.
Please do not take pictures here.
心配しないでください。
shinpai shinaide kudasai.sinpai sinaide kudasai.しんぱいしないでください.シンパイシナイデクダサイ.
Please don't worry.

The informal version of a negative command simply omits (kudasaikudasaiくださいクダサイ).

まだ行かないで。
mada ikanaide.mada ikanaide.まだいかないで.マダイカナイデ.
Don't go yet.

Comparison with Other Imperative Forms

The (teteてテ)-form command is relatively mild. Japanese has other, stronger imperative forms that are used in more specific contexts. Understanding them helps clarify when the (teteてテ)-form is appropriate.

The (nasainasaiなさいナサイ) Form: This is a command form used by superiors to inferiors, most commonly by parents to children or teachers to students. It carries a tone of instruction or guidance.

早く寝なさい。
hayaku nenasai.hayaku nenasai.はやくねなさい.ハヤクネナサイ.
Go to bed early.

The Stem + (roroろロ) / (yoyoよヨ) Form: This is a very strong, often harsh command. It is used in emergencies, in the military, by men in very informal situations, or when someone is angry. It is not used in regular polite conversation.

逃げろ！
nigero!nigero!にげろ!ニゲロ!
Run! / Escape!

Compared to these, the plain (teteてテ)-form is a much softer and more common way to give a casual command.

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