The most common Japanese verbs

Mastering verbs in Japanese is essential for anyone looking to achieve fluency in the language. Understanding the most common Japanese verbs is the first step towards constructing meaningful sentences and expressing yourself accurately. 

This guide will walk you through the various categories of Japanese verbs, including U-verbs, Ru-verbs, and irregular verbs. We’ll also explore action verbs related to physical and mental activities, delve into other types of verbs, and examine auxiliary verbs, known as 助動詞 (Jodoushi). By learning how Japanese verbs work, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the language and enhance your ability to communicate effectively.

• Verb categories: The various types of Japanese verbs
• Action verbs: Physical 
• Action verbs: Mental 
• Other verbs
• Japanese auxiliary verbs: 助動詞 (Jodoushi)
• How Japanese verbs work
• Enhance your Japanese skills with MochiKanji
• Conclusion

1. Verb categories: The various types of Japanese verbs

U-verb

• 話す (hanasu): speak

The verb 話す (hanasu), meaning “to speak,” is composed of the stem “hanas” and the suffix “u.” As demonstrated in the Japanese verb chart, the suffix undergoes conjugation changes based on the verb form. It’s essential to note that when a verb ends in “u,” the final vowel is “u.” Thus, u-verbs can end with the Hiragana characters:

• う(u)
• く (ku)
• す(su)
• つ (tsu)
• ぬ (nu)
• む (mu)
• る (ru) 

Examples

Ru-verb

• 見る (miru): to see

The verb 見る (miru), meaning “to see,” is a ru-verb that consists of the stem “mi” and the suffix “ru.” Like other ru-verbs, the suffix follows a specific conjugation pattern, differing slightly from u-verbs.

Examples

Irregular verb

• 来る (kuru)：come

• する (suru)：do

The Japanese verb する (suru), meaning “do,” is a very handy word which can often turn a noun into a verb when it’s added next to the noun. 

For example:

• 運動 (undou) + する (suru) = to exercise (doing exercise)
• 勉強 (benkyou) + する (suru) = to study (doing study)
• 買い物 (kaimono) + する (suru) = to shop (doing shopping)

2. Action verbs: Physical 

Physical action verbs describe tangible actions, such as running, eating, or speaking. These are some of the most frequently used verbs in daily conversations and are essential for basic communication. 

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3. Action verbs: Mental 

Mental action verbs describe intangible actions, such as thinking, wanting, or believing. These verbs are crucial for expressing thoughts, desires, and opinions in Japanese.

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4. Other verbs

Here is a table showcasing various other verbs, including their readings, Kanji characters, and Hiragana forms:

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5. Japanese auxiliary verbs: 助動詞 (Jodoushi)

Auxiliary verbs, or 助動詞 (jodoushi), are used in conjunction with main verbs to modify their meaning. By adding an auxiliary verb, the meaning of the preceding word will be modified.

For example:

• 読む（Read）＋そうだ

= 読むそうだ: They say that she/he will read

• 読む (yomu): “read” + たい (tai) [desire]
  = 読みたい (yomitai): “want to read”

Here are some common Japanese auxiliary verbs:

How Japanese verbs work

Japanese verbs are categorized into three main types: U-verbs, Ru-verbs, and Irregular verbs. Each type follows specific conjugation rules, which determine how the verb forms change depending on the tense, mood, or politeness level.

U-verbs, such as 書く (kaku) meaning “write,” have stems ending in a consonant followed by “u.” The conjugation involves modifying the stem and adding specific endings. For example, the polite form of 書く is 書きます (kakimasu), and the negative form is 書かない (kakanai).

Ru-verbs, like 出る (deru) meaning “come out,” have stems that end in a vowel followed by “ru.” These verbs are generally simpler to conjugate. For instance, 出る becomes 出ます (demasu) in the polite form and 出ない (denai) in the negative form.

Irregular verbs don’t follow the standard conjugation patterns of U-verbs and Ru-verbs. The most common irregular verbs are する (suru) meaning “do,” and 来る (kuru) meaning “come.” Their conjugations are unique, such as する becoming します (shimasu) and 来る becoming 来ます (kimasu) in the polite form.

Understanding how these categories work is essential for mastering Japanese verb conjugation and using verbs correctly in different contexts.

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Conclusion

Understanding verbs in Japanese is crucial for advancing your language skills. By familiarizing yourself with the most common Japanese verbs and their categories, you’ll be better equipped to use them in context, whether you’re discussing physical actions, mental states, or employing auxiliary verbs. With this knowledge, you can start crafting more complex sentences and expressing yourself with greater precision. Continue practicing and applying these verbs to see significant improvements in your Japanese proficiency.