行儀よくしなさい
gyōgi yoku shinasai
To say "behave yourself" in Japanese, use 行儀よくしなさい (gyōgi yoku shinasai).
The phrase is used to correct behavior that is considered rude, messy or socially inappropriate.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'do manners well'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 行儀よくしなさい is formal and authoritative. Its ~ なさい (~nasai) ending makes it a firm command often used by parents to children or teachers to students. For a more polite approach, you can say お行儀を良くしてください, which means "Please have good manners.", or ちゃんと振る舞ってください, which means "Please conduct yourself properly". In informal situations, you can use ちゃんとしなさい to tell someone to behave themselves or まともに振る舞って to mean "Behave properly".
How do you pronounce it?
gyōgi yoku shinasai
Did you know?
- While 行儀 means 'manners', it originally referred to the conduct and discipline of Buddhist monks in training.
- The word ちゃんとする used in the informal 'behave' is an onomatopoeic expression that implies things are clicking perfectly into place.
- The word 行儀 (gyōgi), meaning 'manners', is composed of the characters for 'movement' and 'form'. It suggests that being a person of good character is physically visible through the way you move.
Examples in context
- 行儀よくしなさい。Behave yourself.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 行儀よくしなさい.Tatoeba #173341 by bunbuku, translation #64491 by CK
- お行儀を良くしてください。Please behave yourself.
- 外では行儀よくしなさい。Soto de wa gyōgi yoku shinasai.Behave yourself while we are outside.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A mother is talking to her son at a fancy restaurant.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮、レストランでは行儀よくしなさい。Ren, resutoran de wa gyōgi yoku shinasai.Ren, behave yourself in the restaurant.
- 蓮 Renわかったよ、お母さん。Wakatta yo, okāsan.I understand, Mom.
- 陽葵 Himari静かに食べてね。Shizuka ni tabete ne.Eat quietly, okay?
- 蓮 Renうん、わかった。Un, wakatta.Yeah, I got it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
