Can the plain form of a verb ever mean an instruction or suggestion?


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?




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.




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.

