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Like on GUI prompts you see phrases like

メニューを閉める

Since this the plain form of the verb, it should mean that "someone/something closes/will close". It can't ever be an instruction right? So why don't they write

メニューを閉めて

or even

メニューを閉めろ

So does this mean that sentences like

本をちゃんと読む

can sometimes be interpreted to be instructions or suggestions to read your book properly?

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1 Answer 1

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As commented, I'm not sure if 'Close' in English is an imperative, but in Japanese 終止形(dictionary form) can be used to give instructions or orders.

Example 1: A mother may say to her child: さっさと食べて学校に行く = Eat quickly and go to school.

Example 2: An instruction to prepare cup noodle: 1. お湯を注ぐ Pour hot water 2. 3分待つ Wait for 3 mins.

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