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I've been listening to the song "If I die tonight" by KOHH and at the end of
the second verse he says `楽しめよ` and the subtitles say it means "live it up".
But when I look for translation elsewhere it's translated as "Be able to
enjoy" and Google simply translates it to romaji.

So I guess "live it up" is a translation that tries to convey the meaning
instead of the literal sentence? Or is `楽しめよ` simply a creation by the artist?

<http://genius.com/Kohh-if-i-die-tonight-japanese-lyrics>
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words meaning song-lyrics imperatives
What does 楽しめよ really mean?
Seems to be the imperative-form verb 楽{たの}しめ together with the particle よ.

* * *

## 楽しめ

楽{たの}しむ is the original verb, which means "to enjoy oneself". 楽{たの}しめ, the
imperative form, is formed by changing む to め. Imperative-form verbs are
blunt, and are used in emergencies, in commands, to be rude, etc.

Thus 楽{たの}しめ roughly means "Enjoy yourself!" (As a command).

* * *

## よ

The particle よ is often used to soften commands, warnings, insistence, and so
on. So it would seem that 楽{たの}しめよ is a firm command, not a threatening one.

* * *

In the context of the song, 死{し}ぬまでを 楽{たの}しめよ might be close to "until you
die, you'd better enjoy yourself!"

> More examples of imperative verbs:
>
> (Father to child:) 早{はや}く 寝{ね}ろ！ Go to sleep early!
>
> (Teacher to lazy student:) 勉{べん}強{きょう}しろ！ Study!
>
> (Robber to bank receptionist:) 金{かね}を 全{ぜん}部{ぶ}出{だ}せ！ Take out all the
> money! (Caution: かね is a blunt and unsophisticated way to say "money".)
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I’m comfortable with the lyrics, "If I die tonight" being followed by the
second verse, "live it up" as translated in English. But I’m uncomfortable
with the Japanese wording, “楽しめよ” coming after “If I die tonight.” It doesn't
make sense.

“楽しめよ” is an imperative form of “楽しむ,” meaning “enjoy (the life, game, sports,
journey, drinking, you name it).” How can you say “let’s enjoy (your short
life) when you’re going to die tonight”?

"Enjoy" and "live it up" are different. I can understand that you say
“もし今夜死ぬとしたら、その前に思い切り好きなことをして〈楽しんで〉死ね - Let’s live it up, if you die tonight,”
but I don’t understand the phrasing -もし今夜死ぬとしたら、楽しめよ – Let’s enjoy if you die
tonight,”

Seriously, what on the earth do you enjoy - 楽しむ - when you're gonna die
tonight, say within 24 hours from now ?
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