2 Types Of Common Japanese Verbs: An Easy Guide

Interested in expanding your Japanese vocabulary? This article is the way to go! Filled with various Japanese verbs and how to use them, you can now learn more about the Japanese language and make meaningful connections. In this post, you will learn more about common Japanese verbs, how to use them, their usage, or just the base word of these verbs.

Learning a new language, to some, might be hard. However, it becomes easier with the right amount of hard work and understanding of what you want to learn. The Japanese language is one of the best languages to learn in the world. At first glance, it is complicated. But when you grasp the whole idea of their language, it becomes less complicated than English. What better way to polish or learn your daily dose of Japanese than learning its common verbs, right? Read on to learn more!

A Brief Overview Of Japanese Verbs

If you are a fan of anime or you’re interested in Japan’s culture, then you might not be a stranger to some of these words. However, one misuse of the verb might give people the wrong impression of you. Since people from Japan are very particular with politeness and respect, you should know that even verbs have a degree of respect that is to be attached. 

Don’t be intimidated by Japan’s writing system too! With time and work, you won’t think about Japanese being a hard language to learn at all. However, let’s start with these common verbs first and their meanings. It is important to know that their verb structure is very different from the English language. We will start with learning their verb classification and how to make these verbs polite.

Japanese verbs contain a base word and then the right suffix for it. Fun fact, all Japanese verbs end with ‘u’ or ‘ru’. This being said, their verb classification usually falls into these two: the U-verbs and the Ru-verbs. 

Common Japanese Verbs

A List Of U-Verbs You Should Learn

These are the verbs that end with the letter ‘u’. Such verbs are called the Godan verbs. Both U-Verbs and R-Verbs function the same. However, verbs are classified with either two in order to make the sentence easier to understand and provide more context.

Here are some common Japanese U-verbs:

EnglishPresent FormNegative Form
CallYobu (呼ぶ)Yobanai (呼ばない)
ArriveTsuku (着く) Tsukanai (着かない)
EnjoyTanoshimu(楽しむ) Tanoshimuanai (楽しまない)
GoIku (行く) Ikanai (行かない)
MeetAu (会う) Awanai (会わない)
MakeTsukuru (作る) Tsukuranai (作らない)
PayHarau (払う) Harawanai (払わない)
ReadYomu (読む) Yomanai (読まない)
RunHashiru (走る) Hashiranai (走らない)
SitSuwaru (座る) Suwaranai (座らない)
Stand upTatsu (立つ) Tatanai (立たない)
UnderstandWakaru (分かる) Wakaranai (分からない)
WalkAruku (歩く) Arukanai (歩かない)
WaitMatsu (待つ) Matanai (待たない)
WriteKaku (書く) Kakanai (書かない)

Always remember that a verb’s negative form will always end with the letters “ai”.The verbs above are in their plain form and are subject to change depending on the sentence structure. Do note that these verbs still need to be changed to be polite and respectful.

It is very easy to change these verbs into their polite form. If you’re a beginner in learning Japanese, replacing ‘u’ with ‘i’ and then adding masu (​​ ます) makes the verb polite. However, if you are trying to make a negative word polite, you will add masen (ません) instead of masu (​​ ます) but still replace ‘u’ with ‘i’. Easy, right?

Here Are Some Ways How To Use These U-Verbs In Sentences

EnglishRomajiJapanese
I had a chance to meet him in Paris.Tamatama pari de kare ni au kikai ga attaでも家ではトニーと呼んでいるのですよ。
I’m going to make a drink.Nomimono de mo tsukurō .飲み物でも作ろう。
Where should I pay the tax?Zeikin wa doko de harau nodesu ka .税金はどこで払うのですか。
I feel fresh after a walk.Watashi wa kazoku ni anata no tegami o yondeageta .散歩して気分がさわやかだ。
He can run faster than me.Kare wa watashi yori hayaku hashiru koto ga dekiru .彼はわたしより速く走ることができる。

A List Of Ru-Verbs You Need To Know

Common Japanese Verbs

These are the verbs that basically end with the letter ‘ru’. Such verbs are called the Ichidan verbs. However, some U-Verbs end in ‘ru’, which is very confusing. To avoid making mistakes in Japanese grammar, keep in mind that if the letter before ‘ru’ is i or e, it is a Ru-Verb.

Check out some examples of the Ru-Verbs:

EnglishPresentNegative
RentKariru (借りる) Karinai (借りない)
EatTaberu (食べる) Tabenai (食べない)
ContinueTsuzukeru (続ける) Tsuzukenai (続けない)
FindMitsukeru (見つける) Mitsukenai (見つけない)
RememberOboeru (覚える) Oboenai (覚えない)
WearKiru (着る) Kinai (着ない)
ForgetWasureru (忘れる) Wasurenai (忘れない)

To make these verbs polite and formal, what you will do is just replace ‘ru’ with masu (​​ ます) for the positive form and masen (ません)  for the negative form. Since Ru-Verbs precede either ‘i’ or ‘e’, you don’t have to change anything besides ‘ru’. Here are some basic Japanese phrases to practice with.

Examples Of Ru-Verbs As Sentences

EnglishRomajiJapanese
I rented a car from my friend.watashi wa yūjin kara okane o haratte kuruma o kariteiru.私は友人からお金を払って車を借りている。
We’re likely to continue reading this book up to the end of the year.nenmatsu made kono hon o yomitsuzukerudarō年末までこの本を読み続けるだろう。
I can’t find my suitcase.watashi no sūtsukēsu ga mitsukaranai.私のスーツケースが見つからない。
I remember posting your letter yesterday.kinō anata no tegami o posuto ni ireta koto o oboeteimasu.昨日あなたの手紙をポストに入れたことを覚えています。
Elderly people tend to forget things.toshiyori wa mono o wasure gachidearu.年寄りはものを忘れがちである。

 

A List Of Common Japanese Verbs To Expand Your Vocabulary

Common Japanese Verbs

These are just the common Japanese verbs that you can use to get by when you visit Japan or talk to Japanese people. Japan’s language isn’t just a way of communicating, but it becomes meaningful when you understand it more. 

Here are more common Japanese verbs that can help you expand your Japanese vocabulary! 

EnglishRomajiJapanese
CloseShimeru閉める
PushOsu押す
RideNoru乗る
LeaveDeru出る
EnterHairu入る
TakeToru取る
CloseShimeru閉める
ReturnKaeru帰る
ServeDasu出す

 

Experience A Good Way Learning Japanese With Ling App

Indeed, learning a new language is never easy, but it’s also not hard if you have the right tools for it. Good thing Ling App has got you covered! It provides a variety of lessons and tips on making your journey in learning a new language easy. Not only is the app very easy to use, but it is also very convenient. The app provides different resources for different languages, not just Japanese. What are you waiting for? Check out the Ling App now!

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