たまえ

たまえ is an order from above: a man of higher standing telling someone below him to do something. It goes on the ます-stem – かき書きたまえ, たべた食べたまえ, したまえ, きた来たまえ – and sounds firm without being rough.

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たまえ is old-fashioned. You meet it in novels, period dramas, anime and manga, in the mouth of a professor, a company president or a stern father, often together with きみ君. Said in real conversation today, it comes across as pompous, or as a joke.

たまえ or なさい

なさい is the everyday command from above – parents to children, teachers to pupils – and anyone can use it. たまえ is the stiffer, male, bookish version. The bare imperative, すわれ座れ or しろ, is blunter than either.