Why is なさい used in ごめんなさい when it is usually used as a command form?
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2017-06-20T12:49:19.320
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nuances
Use of なさい in ごめんなさい
免 is a somewhat old word meaning 'forgiveness'. There is a polite command form
that goes お・ご～なさい, such as in おいでなさい or ご覧なさい. If you apply this to 免, you get
ご免なさい, literally 'please forgive me'. This command form is also seen in
おやすみなさい and おかえりなさい.
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2017-06-20T12:54:08.203
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Nothing at all's answer is fine the basics, but it could be misleading
depending on how much Japanese you are planning to learn.

ご/おV-stemなさい is a polite command conjugation of the verb
[なさる](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E3%81%AA%E3%81%95%E3%82%8B).

なさる is the keigo equivalent of する (meaning it is respectful). Conversely, いたす
is the self-humbling form.

So by using なさる you express respect for the person you are talking to and by
using ご/おV-stemください you express it politely.

免ずる means to forgive and this is then conjugated to mean "please forgive me"
by using a polite and respectful command conjugation.
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2017-06-20T15:13:35.197
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