なさい

Meanings

auxiliary verb

usually written using kana alone

Light imperative auxiliary verb attached to the -masu stem of a verb. Used toward someone of equal or lower standing, such as a parent to a child or a teacher to a student. Softer than a direct imperative but still a command.

Usage patterns

〈動どう詞し〉なさいdo ~ (a mild command, attached to the -masu stem of a verb)
早はやく起おきなさい。
Get up quickly!
さっさと〈動どう詞し〉なさいhurry up and do ~ (adds urgency to the command)
さっさと片かたづけなさい。
Hurry up and tidy this up!

Grammar

なさいdo it (said by parents, teachers)N4

Kanji

為do, change, make

Related words

くださいN5
ください is a polite request form usable with anyone, while なさい is a plainer command typically used by a superior toward an inferior, such as a parent to a child.
りん
なさい is the standard, nationwide polite imperative ending, whereas りん is a softer imperative used only in the Mikawa dialect.

Politeness

なplain
な is the blunt, casual abbreviation used with the -masu stem, while なさい is the fuller, more polite imperative form it comes from.

Don't confuse with

なさるN4
なさる is the honorific dictionary-form verb meaning 'to do', while なさい is its imperative form used as a light command auxiliary, so learners often confuse the two.

Etymology

Imperative form of the honorific verb なさる, which itself is derived from 為す (なす, 'to do') with the honorific auxiliary る.