Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Intermediate 1
〜な~na
strongly tell someone not to
Add 「な」 to the dictionary form in 「〜るな」 to urgently stop someone or give a stern warning.
How it works
Why is he stopping the other person? The prohibitive form means “don’t do it” and stops someone immediately in a dangerous situation.
For every verb group, add 「な」 to the dictionary form. The verb stays unchanged, so there are no new endings to memorize.
「な」 follows the dictionary form, not the ない form. To forbid movement, say 「動くな」, not 「動かないな」.
The prohibitive form sounds very strong. It is often used to stop someone urgently or give a stern warning, so use it carefully for everyday requests.
For an everyday request not to move, say 「動かないでください」. It is more polite than 「動くな」.
