Learn Japanese with Anime - Rage, My Soldiers! (Attack on Titan)

Analysis

兵士よ

兵士 means “soldier”.

The particle よ following a noun is used when calling one’s name in a dramatic way. It’s a literary expression which is often used in songs, poems, prayers or classical stories so you hardly hear it in daily conversation.

In this scene he’s also trying to encourage everyone by addressing them as soldiers.

怒れ 叫べ 戦え

These are all the verbs in imperative form, used for giving strong commands.

怒（いか）れ is the imperative form of 怒（いか）る meaning “to rage”.

叫べ is the imperative form of 叫ぶ meaning “to shout”.

戦え is the imperative form of 戦う meaning “to fight”.

Japanese verbs are divided into three groups and all these verbs belong to Group 1.

Group 1 Verbs

The dictionary form of Group 1 verbs end with the vowel “u”. To make the imperative form, simply change the last vowel “u” to the vowel “e”.

 Dictionary form

• 話す (hanasu) – “to speak”
• 聞く (kiku) – “to listen”
• 書く (kaku) – “to write”
• 読む (yomu) – “to read”
• 待つ (matsu) – “to wait”

Imperative form

• 話せ (hanase)
• 聞け (kike)
• 書け (kake)
• 読め (yome)
• 待て (mate)

Group 2 Verbs

The dictionary form of Group 2 verbs end with “eru” or “iru”. To make the imperative form, change the last vowel “u” to the vowel “o”. 

 Dictionary form

• 開ける (akeru) – “to open”
• 出る (deru) – “to exit”
• 寝る(neru) – “to sleep”
• 着る (kiru) – “to wear”
• 信じる (shinjiru) – “to believe”

Imperative form

• 開けろ (akero)
• 出ろ (dero)
• 寝ろ (nero)
• 着ろ (kiro)
• 信じろ (shinjiro)

Group 3 Verbs

There are only two verbs in Group 3. Their verb forms are irregular so you just have to remember each of them.

Dictionary form

• 来る (kuru) – “to come”
• する (suru) – “to do”

Imperative form

• 来い (koi)
• しろ (shiro)