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Lesson 33 — 命令形めいれいけい·禁止形きんしけい· と読よみます · と言いっていました

BOOK II · 初級 II みんなの日本語 · Mini no Nihongo

L33 · commands · quotes

Name Date

REF命令形めいれいけい·禁止形きんしけい· と読よみます · と言いっていました

Command form (命令形めいれいけい) & prohibitive (禁止形きんしけい)

GroupCommandProhibitive
1 godan: u→edict form + な
2 ichidan: る→ろ
3 irreg.

Both are rough. Used by: men to intimates, superiors in emergencies, sports coaching, signage, and when quoting a command. Not for ordinary polite conversation.

Where you actually meet them

ContextExample
road / public signs
cheering
emergency
quoted inside a sentence

Common signs

no entryno parking
do not useno smoking
dangeremergency exit

〜と読よみます / 〜と書かいてあります

X は Y という意味いみです

〜と言いっていました — relaying a message

FormUse
reports that the act of speaking happened
passes the content on to a third party

〜と伝つたえていただけませんか

— could you pass on that…

Set expressions会話かいわ

Key vocabulary

行いきます急いそぎます逃にげます騒さわぎます確認かくにんします伝つたえます注意ちゅういします使用しようします入はいります規則きそく標識ひょうしき丸まるバツ字じ意味いみ試合しあいマナー非常口ひじょうぐち

詳説 In depth — grammar notes

The 命令形めいれいけい and 禁止形きんしけい

Two blunt forms. Learn to read them; think twice before you say them.

GroupCommand 命令形Prohibitive 禁止形
I (godan)final kana → え-row: dictionary + な:
II (ichidan)drop る, add ろ:
III
PoliteCommandProhibitive
—
—

Used at a person, these are rude — the register of an angry parent, a drill sergeant or a fight. As a learner you will almost never produce them in conversation. What you do need is to recognise them on signs and in reported speech.

Where you actually meet them

SettingExample
road and safety signs
coaches and sports
male casual speech
quoting a rule
emergencies
危険きけん立入禁止たちいりきんし禁煙きんえん使用中しようちゅう非常口ひじょうぐち引ひく押おす

〜と読よみます / 〜と書かいてあります

The quote particle と marks the exact string being read, written or called.

JapaneseEnglish
How do you read that kanji?
You read it "iriguchi".
What does that sign say?
It says "in use".

X は Y という意味いみです

Use it to ask for and give meanings. という attaches a name or a quoted string to the noun that follows.

JapaneseEnglish
What does "tachiiri kinshi" mean?
It means you must not enter.
There was a call from someone called Miller.

Note the question word: , not .

〜と言いっていました — passing on a message

Quote in the plain form, then report. The reporter's politeness lives in the final verb only.

OriginalReported
FormUse
reports that the words were said
relays a message to a third party — the everyday choice

A reported sentence keeps だ before と: ✕ · ○. A quoted name or string does not, because there is no sentence to carry だ: · · — your own name never takes だ. Compare でしょう (L32), which drops だ in either case.

〜と伝つたえていただけませんか

The polite way to leave a message with someone.

すみません、田中たなかさんに、あした3時じに来きてくださいと伝つたえていただけませんか。

はい、わかりました。伝つたえておきます。

JapaneseEnglish
Could you tell him the meeting is from five?
Please give them my regards.

Error table

✕○Why
group II command is ろ
来くる is irregular
quote in the plain form
the quoted verb goes plain
a reported sentence keeps だ (a quoted name does not)
fixed phrasing

Try translating

EnglishJapanese
The sign says "no entry".
How do you read this kanji?
What does "kinen" mean?
It means you can't smoke here.
Mr Yamada said he'd be late.
Could you tell her I called?

練習 Practice — 9 questions

  1. Q1 G1 · command

    Command form of行いきます

    行 い
    く
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A godan: u→e:行いけ
  2. Q2 G2 · command

    Command form of 食たべます

    食 た
    べ
    る
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B ichidan: る→ろ: 食たべろ
  3. Q3 G3 · command

    Command of します /来きます

    す
    る
    ・
    来 く
    る
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A しろ /来こい(こい)
  4. Q4 prohibitive

    Prohibitive 'Don't go in!'

    入 はい
    る
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B dict form + な:入はいるな
  5. Q5 signs

    What does the road sign 「止とまれ」 mean?

    止 と
    ま
    れ
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B Command of 止とまる = Stop!
  6. Q6 〜と読みます

    'That kanji is read "tomare".'

    読
    む
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A quote + と読よみます
  7. Q7 〜と書いてあります

    'It says 「駐車禁止ちゅうしゃきんし」 over there.'

    書 か
    く
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B quote + と書かいてあります (L30's deliberate-state machinery)
  8. Q8 という意味

    '「入はいるな」means you must not enter.'

    意味 いみ
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A plain + という意味いみです
  9. Q9 と言っていました

    Relay a message: 'Tanaka said he'll come tomorrow.'

    伝言 でんごん
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B Relaying someone's message = と言いっていました

解答 Answer key

  1. Q1 A godan: u→e:行いけ
  2. Q2 B ichidan: る→ろ: 食たべろ
  3. Q3 A しろ /来こい(こい)
  4. Q4 B dict form + な:入はいるな
  5. Q5 B Command of 止とまる = Stop!
  6. Q6 A quote + と読よみます
  7. Q7 B quote + と書かいてあります (L30's deliberate-state machinery)
  8. Q8 A plain + という意味いみです
  9. Q9 B Relaying someone's message = と言いっていました