たまえ details
write + do it — dated, masculine command from a superior to a subordinate
kaki tamae
do it — dated, masculine command from a superior to a subordinate
meaning: write
君、まあ、そこに座りたまえ。
kimi, maa, soko ni suwari tamae.
You there — sit down. neutral
教授は「もっと調べてから来たまえ」と言った。
kyouju wa "motto shirabete kara kitamae" to itta.
The professor said, "Come back once you've looked into it more." neutral
Examples
do it — a superior's blunt command to a subordinate, dated and coded masculine
君、まあ、そこに座りたまえ。
kimi, maa, soko ni suwaritamae.
You there — sit down. neutral
教授は「もっと調べてから来たまえ」と言った。
kyouju wa "motto shirabete kara kitamae" to itta.
The professor said, "Come back once you've looked into it more." neutral
社長は「この件は君に任せる。存分にやりたまえ」と言い放った。
shachou wa "kono ken wa kimi ni makaseru. zonbun ni yaritamae" to iihanatta.
The president declared, "I'm leaving this matter to you. Do as you see fit." neutral
Formation
{V-masu-stem}たまえattaches to ます-stem
Notes
its own auxiliary — the archaism is real, not a learner's error to iron
out. Natural only from a status-marked older man in fiction.
Related patterns
Similar
Both command from a position of standing over the listener, but なさい is unmarked for era and gender and still ordinary from a parent or teacher today, while たまえ is archaic and coded masculine — heard now only from an old-fashioned boss, professor, or an officer in period fiction, and reaching for it in real conversation reads as an affectation.
Same meaning
do it; an order from above
| Pattern | Attaches to |
|---|---|
| なさい |