Imperative・〜な
do it! / don't!
Godan: e-row (行け) · Ichidan: ろ (食べろ) · しろ · 来い · Dictionary form + な
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The imperative is a bare command:
- godan verbs move to the e-row: 行く → 行け, 飲む → 飲め, 頑張る → 頑張れ
- ichidan verbs swap る for ろ: 食べる → 食べろ, 逃げる → 逃げろ
- する → しろ, 来る → 来い (こい)
The negative is the dictionary form plus な: 行くな, "don't go"; 撮るな, "don't take (photos)".
It's blunt. You'll hear it shouted in emergencies (逃げろ!), from sports coaches, on road signs (止まれ), in cheering (頑張れ!) and constantly in manga. Said to a colleague, it's rude.
Parents and teachers use the softer なさい on the ます-stem: 早く寝なさい, "go to bed now".
Register: Blunt. Heard from coaches, in emergencies, on signs, and in manga; rude said directly to most people.
Examples
早く逃げろ！
Run! Get out of here, quick!
危ない！止まれ！
Watch out! Stop!
ここで写真を撮るな。
Don't take photos here.
もっと頑張れ！
Come on, keep going!
もう十時よ。早く寝なさい。
It's already ten. Go to bed, now.