JLPT N3: しろ〈命令〉と（言う）

Remember when we saw how to make negative commands?

This lesson:  [NDL #787] - JLPT N4: な《禁止》.

Then we saw how to refer to a negative command that had been made (i.e. how to quote a negative command): [NDL #790] - JLPT N3: な〈禁止〉と（言う）.


Well, we recently saw how to make positive commands, yeah? This lesson: [NDL #788] - JLPT N4: しろ《命令》.

So. What do you think this lesson is about?

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Did you guess that it's about referring to positive commands that have been made (i.e. how to quote a positive command): JLPT N3: しろ〈命令〉と（言う）...?

Wrong!

It's about animal intelligence!


Important: Who do you think is smarter, elephants, dolphins, crows, or octopuses?

(Side Note #1: Imagine that I included a sweet image here of these animals engaged in an epic battle.)

(Side Note #2: Saying "octopi" sounds much cooler to me than "octopuses," but some people don't accept that spelling.)


You know when you were supposed to be studying Japanese, but then you suddenly find yourself reading articles about intelligent animal species and editor-approved spellings of their names? Story of my life.

In a disappointing turn of events, you were right all along. This lesson is about quoting commands.

Remember how the command form sounds rough and is typically used by male speakers? (If not, review this lesson.)

That rough sounding nuance is lost when we are referring to one of those commands:

わたしは弟に掃除を手伝えと言った。
わたし　は　おとうと　に　そうじ　を　てつだえ　と　いった。
I told my little brother to help clean.
Literally: “I + は + younger brother + に + cleaning + を + help (=[command]) + と + said.”


So, we have a command, then the particle と, then a word that indicates this command is being quoted (i.e. a verb like "to say," "to write," etc.).

But how do I conjugate verbs into the command form?!

Step #1: Review this lesson.

Step #2: ...

Step #3: Profit.

 

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Another example:

看板にスピードを落とせと書いてある。
かんばん　に　スピード　を　おとせ　と　かいてある。
The sign says to slow down.
Literally: “sign + に + speed + を + drop (=[command]) + と + is written.”


Speaking of street signs, you'll see the command form being used on them from time to time:


止まれ (とまれ) = "Stop"



スピード落とせ (スピードおとせ) = "Slow Down"

 

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Yet another example:

わたしが食事を残すと、夫はいつも食べ物を大切にしろと言います。
わたし　が　しょくじ　を　のこす　と、　おっと　は　いつも　たべもの　たいせつ　に　しろ　と　いいます。
Whenever I don’t finish my food, my husband tells me that I shouldn’t be wasteful.
Literally: “I + が + food / meal + を + leave (over) + と, + husband + は + always + food + を + treasure / put a high value on (=important/valuable + に + do [=(command)]) + と + says.”
Note: Comparing my translation to the literal breakdown, you'll see that I'm taking some liberties with the phrase 大切にする.

 

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Last one:

母から電話が来て、今すぐ帰って来いと言われた。
はは　から　でんわ　が　きて、　いますぐ　かえって　こい　と　いわれた。
I got a call from my mother, and she said to [ordered me to] come home immediately.
Literally: “mother + from + phone + が + come (and), + right away + come home [=(command)] (=return home [and] + come [=(command)]) + と + was told.”

 

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Another grammar point devoured.

I salute you, wise student.