All About Japanese Verbs

Verbs are key to learning Japanese.
This article covers the essential concepts in an easy-to-follow way, including the categories of Japanese verbs, their complex conjugation rules, how tense works, and aspect. By gaining a deeper understanding of how Japanese verbs function, you can develop more natural and accurate Japanese expression skills.

In Japanese grammar, verbs form the backbone of a sentence and are one of its most important elements. Unlike English, which follows an SVO (subject–verb–object) word order, Japanese uses an SOV (subject–object–verb) structure, with the verb placed at the end of the sentence.

Because of this, key information—such as whether a sentence is affirmative or negative, and whether it refers to the past or the present—does not become clear until the final verb is heard or read. In this section, we explore the basic categories of Japanese verbs.

In Japanese language education, Japanese verbs are commonly categorized into three groups to make them easier for learners to remember. This classification is based on the phonetic characteristics of the verb endings in their dictionary (base) forms.

In this group, verbs that end with a u-row sound in their dictionary form fall into this category, such as 書く (kaku, to write), 飲む (nomu, to drink), and 遊ぶ (asobu, to play).

One of the most important characteristics of Godan verbs is that, when they are conjugated, the final sound of the verb changes across all five vowel rows of the Japanese syllabary: a, i, u, e, and o.
For example, the verb 書く (kaku, to write) changes as follows:

• 書かない (kakanai, not write) — a
• 書きます (kakimasu, write [polite]) — i
• 書く (kaku, write) — u
• 書ける (kakeru, can write) — e
• 書こう (kakō, let’s write / will write) — o

Verbs that end in -ru and have an i-row or e-row sound immediately before ru fall into this group. Examples include 見る (miru, to see) and 食べる (taberu, to eat). When conjugated, the verb stem does not change. Conjugation is done simply by removing -ru from the end of the verb and adding the appropriate ending, making the rules very straightforward.

However, some verbs—such as 帰る (kaeru, to return) and 切る (kiru, to cut)—may appear to be Group 2 verbs, but they follow Group 1 conjugation patterns, so extra care is needed.

This group contains only two verbs: する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come). In particular, suru, which means “to do” in English, is one of the most frequently used verbs in Japanese, as it can be combined with nouns to express a wide range of actions, such as 勉強する (benkyō suru, to study) and 留学する (ryūgaku suru, to study abroad).

One of the biggest challenges Japanese learners face is distinguishing between intransitive and transitive verbs.
Unlike in English, where a single verb can serve both functions—such as open—Japanese uses clearly different verb forms for each.

Intransitive verbs focus on the movement of the subject or a change in its state. They typically take the particle が (ga).

Example:
• ドアが開く。 (Doa ga aku.)
— The door opens. (a natural change of state or event)

Transitive verbs focus on an action performed by the subject (the doer) on an object. They typically take the particle を (o).

Example:
• 私がドアを開ける。 (Watashi ga doa o akeru.)
— I open the door. (a deliberate, intentional action)

Japanese verbs express politeness, negation, tense, and grammatical connections by changing their endings.

Here, we explore four major verb forms in detail.

The Masu-form is usually the first verb form that beginner Japanese learners encounter. By adding -masu to the end of a verb, speakers express a polite attitude toward the listener. In communication, this form is essential, as it helps maintain an appropriate and respectful level of social distance.

Group 1 (Godan Verbs)
Change the final u-row sound to the corresponding i-row sound, then add -masu.
• 行く → 行きます (iku → ikimasu, to go)

Group 2 (Ichidan Verbs)
Remove -ru and add -masu.
• 食べる → 食べます (taberu → tabemasu, to eat)

The Dictionary Form is the form listed in dictionaries. It is commonly used in casual speech among people close to the speaker, such as friends and family members, as well as in written language, including academic writing.

In addition, this form plays an important role as a base for grammatical constructions, such as “~ koto ga dekiru” (expressing ability) and “~ tsumori da” (expressing intention).

The Te-form is one of the most important and versatile verb forms in Japanese conjugation. It is used in a wide range of everyday contexts, such as ~te kudasai (requests), ~te iru (ongoing actions or states), and ~te (connecting sentences).

For Group 1 (Godan) verbs, a phenomenon called sound change, known as onbin, occurs to make pronunciation smoother.

促音便: Sokuonbin
Verbs ending in -u, -tsu, or -ru change to -tte.
• 買う → 買って (kau → katte, to buy)
• 待つ → 待って (matsu → matte, to wait)

撥音便: Hatsuonbin
Verbs ending in -nu, -bu, or -mu change to -nde.
• 死ぬ → 死んで (shinu → shinde, to die)
• 読む → 読んで (yomu → yonde, to read)

イ音便: Ionbin
Verbs ending in -ku or -gu change to -ite or -ide.
• 書く → 書いて (kaku → kaite, to write)
• 泳ぐ → 泳いで (oyogu → oyoide, to swim)

The Ta-form expresses the past tense or completed actions. Its formation follows the same rules as the Te-form, with -te changing to -ta and -de changing to -da.

Example:
• 飲んで → 飲んだ (nonde → nonda, drank / have drunk)

The Japanese verb tense has a unique structure compared to many other languages. One particularly distinctive feature is the absence of a separate future tense, which often surprises many Japanese learners.

Japanese tense is categorised into two forms: past (–ta) and non-past (dictionary form / masu-form). The non-past tense expresses either habitual actions in the present or future actions, depending on the context or time expressions.

・ Habitual action (present):
私は毎日コーヒーを飲む。(Watashi wa mainichi kōhī o nomu.)
–“I drink coffee every day.”

・ Future action:
私は明日コーヒーを飲む。(Watashi wa ashita kōhī o nomu.)
–“I will drink coffee tomorrow.”

As shown above, in Japanese, time expressions such as “tomorrow” or “next year” indicate future meaning, while the verb itself does not change its form.

This allows information to be conveyed with a relatively small number of words when speakers share contextual understanding, highlighting the efficiency of the Japanese language.

Instead of having a dedicated future tense, the Japanese language offers a rich variety of expressions that describe the speaker’s perspective toward future actions.

Below are two major phrases and how they are used differently.

～つもりです(~tsumori desu) : Intention / Personal Decision

It conveys the speaker’s intention or personal decision. This expression is used for plans that are based on the speaker’s own will and are not yet fixed or formally arranged.

Example:
来年、日本へ行くつもりです。(Rainen, Nihon e iku tsumori desu.)
– “I intend to go to Japan next year.” (based on the speaker’s own intention)

～予定です(~yotei desu): Schedule / Fixed Plan
This expression is used for schedules or plans that have been decided objectively, or for events that are unlikely to be changed, such as work-related plans or official events.

Example:
会議は3時に終わる予定です。(Kaigi wa san-ji ni owaru yotei desu.)
– “The meeting is scheduled to end at 3:00 p.m.” (a fixed or officially decided plan)

By knowing how to use these expressions effectively and appropriately, learners can express the speaker’s psychological stance toward the future, rather than simply conveying factual information.

Aspect is a grammatical concept that indicates where an action is situated within the flow of time, such as its beginning, progression, completion, or the persistence of its result.

In Japanese, the form –te iru is commonly used to express an aspect; however, its meaning varies greatly depending on the type of verb.

Linguist Haruhiko Kindaichi classified Japanese verbs based on their semantic properties. According to his theory, the form –te iru carries two different meanings, depending on the type of verb:

継続動詞: Durative Verbs (verbs that denote ongoing actions)
When the form –te iru is used with verbs such as taberu (to eat), hashiru (to run), and yomu (to read), it indicates that the action is currently in progress.

Example:
今、ご飯を食べている。(Ima, gohan o tabete iru.)
– “I am eating a meal right now.”

瞬間動詞: Momentary Verbs (verbs that denote actions completed in an instant)
When the form –te iru is used with verbs such as shinu (to die), kekkon suru (to get married), or denki ga tsuku (the light turns on), it indicates that the action has been completed and that the resulting state is continuing.

Example:
電気がついている。(Denki ga tsuite iru.)
– “The light is on.” (The action of turning on has finished, and the state of being on continues.)

There is a common expression that many learners tend to misuse, such as “Watashi wa Tanaka-san o shirimasu” (I will know Mr. Tanaka).

This can also be explained by Kindaichi’s theory. The action of the verb shiru (to know) is completed instantly; therefore, to express the meaning of “have known,” Japanese requires the form shitte iru.

The expression –te shimau is a unique aspectual phrase that can express the speaker’s feelings of regret or disappointment, rather than simply conveying the completion of an action.

Examples:
• Completion: 宿題をやってしまった。(Shukudai o yatte shimatta.)
– “I have finished my homework.” (All of it is completed.)

• Regret: ケーキを食べてしまった。(Keeki o tabete shimatta.)
– “I ate the cake.” (I ate it even though I knew I shouldn’t have, and I regret it.)

As shown above, Japanese has a rich range of expressions that go beyond simply describing facts and can also imply the speaker’s emotions and evaluation of a situation.

TCJ is a Japanese language school with over 35 years of history. Our experienced professional teachers guide each learner in a logical and practical way to understand the intricate workings of Japanese verbs, as explained in this article. Join students from over 80 countries around the world and take your Japanese skills to the next level!

References

Morita, Yoshiyuki (1995). Nihongo no Shiten: Kotoba o Tsukuru Nihonjin no Hassou. Sōtaku-sha.

Iori, Isao, et al. (2000). Japanese Grammar Handbook for Teachers of Beginners. 3A Network.

Kindaichi, Haruhiko (1950). “A Classification of Japanese Verbs.” Gengo Kenkyū, No. 15.