What does 楽しめよ really mean?


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>




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".)




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".)

