The most common and useful Japanese verbs list
I know this is supposed to be a travel blog but learning a new language can be a part of the travel experience, right?
Since I’ve spent a year in Japan I think I could share some of the memos and words lists I made when I was living in Osaka. This might be helpful for future travelers to Japan or if you want to improve your japanese vocabulary.
So here is a list of the most useful and commonly used Japanese verbs, with the form in ‘ru’ / ‘masu‘ form / ‘te‘ form (imperative) / past / negative (ai / masen).
You will see sometimes a practical example to use the verb. The form in ‘te‘ (imperative) is omitted when it’s not used with this verb.
This list of the most common japanese verbs has been double checked but since I translated it from french to english there might be some minor mistakes. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if there are corrections to be made .
Let me know if you want more verbs or words lists in japanese or other languages.
You can download the list of japanese verbs in pdf by clicking here.
THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE MOST USEFUL JAPANESE VERBS
to accept : ukeru / ukemasu / ukete / ukemashta / unkenai / ukemasen
to accompany (someone)): tsureru / tsuremasu / tsutete / tsuremashta / tsurenai / tsuremasen
to add: kuwaeru / kuwaemasu / kuwaete / kuwaemashta
to allow : yurusu / yurushimasu
to answer to: … kaito suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to apologize : ayamaru / ayamarimasu
to appear : mieru / miemasu
to argue with someone: kenka suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to arrange a meeting : machiawaseru / semasu / semashta
to arrive (somewhere) : tsuku / tsukimasu / tsukite / tsukimashta
to ask (for a favor, for help) : tazuneru / tazunemasu / tazunemashta
to attach: tsukeru / tsukemasu / tsukete / tsukemashta (to be attached: tsuku)
to be angry : okoru / okorimasu (Ex: He got angry: Kare wa okotta/okorimashta)
to be born : umareru / umaremasu / umaremashta
to be different : chigau / chigaimasu
to be late : okureru / okuremasu
to be nervous : kincho shimasu / suru (Ex:’I was very nervous’=’mecha kincho shiteta‘)
to be open : hiraiteimasu
to be ready : dekite imasu / iru
to be rested : yoku yasumimashita (past)
to be thirsty: nodo ga kawaku / kawakimasu / kawakimashta
to become: naru / narimasu / naritai (=I want to become)
to believe : shinjiru / shinjimasu
to bite: kamu / kamimasu (Ex: ‘I’ve been bitten by a dog/mosquito’→’Inu/Ka ni kamareta’)
to bleed : shukketsu suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to book : yoyaku suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to borrow : kariru / karimasu / karite / karimashta (Ex:’Can I borrow this?→’Kore karite ii ?‘)
to break : se casser (un bras): oreru / oremasu / oreta (tomber en panne: kowasu / kowaremasu)
to break (an object): wareru / waremasu
to break down : kosho suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to bring (to take something): motte / totte kimasu / kuru mottekite / mottekimashta (Ex:’Totte kite’=Bring me that!)
to bring back: motte (totte) kuru / kimasu
to bring closer : chikazukeru / chikazukemasu / chikazukete / chikazuketa
to burn (something) : yakeru / yakimasu / yaketta
to buy: kau / kaimasu / kaite / kaimashta / kainai / kaimasen
to calculate : keisan suru
to call (on the phone, in the street) : yobu / yobimasu / yonde / yobimashta
to calm down : otchisuku / otchisukimasu / otchisuke (= ‘Calm down!‘)
to can/might : dekiru / dekimasu / dekita
to cancel : kyanseru shimasu / suru
to carry (a bag) : motsu / mochimasu / motte / mochimashta
to carry on : tsuzukeru / tsuzukemasu
to change (bus, take a plane / train connection): norikaeru / norikaemasu
to change (clothes): kigaeru / kigaemasu / kigaete (= Change yourself) / kigaemashta
to change (money): ryoogae shimasu
to be talkative: oshaberi o suru / shimasu
to chat : shaberu / shaberimasu / shabeta / shaberanai de ! (=Stop chatting!)
to choose : erabu / erabimasu / elande / elabimashta
to clean up (make clean) : kirei ni suru / shimasu / shite /shimashta
to climb: noboru / noborimasu / nobote / noborimashta (nobotta)
to close: shimeru / shimemasu / shimete / shimeta
to come : kuru / kimasu / kite / kimashta (kita)
to come back home : kaeru / kaerimasu
to communicate (= contact) : renraku suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to compare: kuraberu / kurabemasu
to complain : monku o iiu / iimasu (Ex: ‘Kare wa itsumo monku o iiteimasu’ → He’s complaining all the time)
to confirm : kakunin suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to contact : renraku suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to cook: ryoori suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to correct : naosu / naoshimasu / naoshite / naoshimashta
to cost: kakaru / kakarimasu / kakarimashta (=kakata)
to cough: seki o suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to count : kazoeru / kazoemasu
to cross (the street) : wataru / watarimasu / watate / watarimashta
to cry : naku / nakimasu / naite / nakimashta / nakanaide (‘Don’t cry!‘)
to cut : kiru / kirimasu
to dance : odoru / odorimasu
to dangle (down) : kakeru / kakemasu
to decide : kimeru / kimemasu / kimete / kimeta
to die : shinu / shinimasu / shine / shinimashta
to disappear : kieru / kiemasu / kiemashta (=kieta)
to discover (= learn a news): megasameru / megasameta
to distribute : kubaru / kubarimasu
to divorce : rikon suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to do the housework : soji suru / shimasu
to draw : kakiru / kakimasu / kaite / kakimashta / kakanai de ! (=Don’t draw!)
to drink : nomu / nomimasu / nonde / nomimashta
to drive: unten suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to drown : dekishi suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to dry: kawaku / kawakimasu
to earn money: kasegu / kasemasu (Ex: ‘I’ve earn a lot of money’ → ‘Ipai okane kasegimashta’)
to eat: taberu / tabemasu / tabete / tabemashta
to end : owaru / owarimasu / owate / owatta
to end up : owaru / owarimasu
to enter : hairu / hairimasu / haite / hairimashta
to explain : setsumei suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to explode : bakuhatsu suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to fall in love with… : ...ni horemasu / horeru
to fill out (a form): kyniuu suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to find : mitsukeru / mitsukemasu / mitsukete /mitsuketa / mitsukenai
to find / retreive: kaifuku suru / shimasu
to fix (troubleshoot) : naosu / naoshimasu
to fly (plane, bird) : tobu / tobimasu
to follow: … no ato tsukeru / tsukemasu / tsukette / tsuketta
to forget: wasureru / wasuremasu / wasurete / wasureta
to forgive : yurusu / yurushimasu
to get dirty : yogoreru / yogoremasu / yogoreta
to get dressed : kigaeru / kigaemasu / kigaete / kigaeta
to get fat: futoru / futorimasu / futote / futotta
to get lost : mayou / mayoimasu / mayotta
to get off (from train / bus / subway): oriru / orimasu
to get old: toshi o toru / torimasu
to get sick : unzari suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to get up : okiru / okimasu / okite / okita
to give : ageru / agemasu / agete / ageta
to give up: otosu / otoshimasu / otoshte / otoshita
to go away: tatsu / tachimasu (means also= to stand up)
to go home : kaeru / kaerimasu (Ex: “I’ll go home soon” → ” Sorosoro kaeru“)
to go out : deru / demasu
to go shopping : kaimono suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to go: iku / ikimasu / ite / itta (Ex: “Have you ever been to France?” → “Furansu wa mo ikimashta ka ?“)
to guess: iateru / iatemasu / past =attata
to hand out (something, a pen for ex.) : watasu / watashimasu / watashite / watashita
to happen: okoru / okorimasu (Ex: ‘There was an accident’=’Jiko ga okorimashta’)
to have : aru / arimasu
to have fun, to enjoy : tanoshimu / tanoshimimasu
to have time : jikan ga aru / arimasu
to hear: kikoeru / kikoemasu / kikoete / kikoemashta
to help (assist): tetsudau / tetsudaimasu (Save someone: tasukeru / tasukemasu) (Some help: Tetsudai)
to hesitate: mayou / mayoimasu / mayota
to hide : kakureru / kakuremasu / kakurete / kakuremashta
to hide (something): kakusu / kakushimasu
to hitch-hike : hitchi haiku suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to hold : motsu / mochimasu
to hook : kakeru / kakemasu / kakette / kakemashta / kakenai / kakemasen
to hope : nozomu / nozomimasu
to hurt : kegao suru / shimasu (Ex:’I’ve hurt myself’=watashi wa ude ni kegaoshimashta‘)
to imagine : sozo suru / shimasu
to inform (notify / let know) : shirasemasu
to insure (with insurance) : hoken o kakeru / kakemasu / kakete / kakemashta
to introduce : shookai suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to invite (at home): maneku / manekimasu / maneita (Ex: ‘tomodachi o maneita’ → ‘I invited a friend‘)
to invite (to an appointment, date) : sasou / sasoimasu
to join (= contact / communicate) : renraku suru
to joke : jodan suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to jump: tobu / tobimasu / tonde / tonda
to keep : motte okiru / oite (=’Keep it)
to kick : kerimasu
to kill: korosu / koroshimasu
to kiss : kissu suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to knock down : otosu / otoshimasu
to know : shiteru / shitemasu
to know: shiru / shirimasu / shitte / shita
to laugh : warau / waraimasu / warate / warata / warawanai
to learn : narau / naraimasu (discover: shiru / shirimasu)
to leave (far away): tatsu / tachimasu
to leave: deru / demasu / dete / demashta (detta)
to lend : kasu / kashimasu / kashite / kashita
to lie : uso o tsuku / ‘I lied’= uso o tsukimashta (tsuita)
to like: suki desu
to listen : kiku / kikimasu / kiite / kikita
to live : sumu / sumimasu (or ‘sunde imasu’= live somewhere.)
to live : sunde iru / imasu
to look after (a bag for ex.): miharu / miharimasu / mihate / mihata
to look for: sagasu / sagashimasu / sagashte / sagashimashta (Ex: ‘I’m looking for work’: ‘shigoto wa sagashimasu‘)
to look like : niteiru (You look like Brad Pitt. → Brad Pitt niteiru)
to lose (something) : nakusu / nakushimasu / nakushita (Ex:’I’ve lost my wallet’→’Saifu nakushta’)
to lose weight: yaseru / yasemasu / yasette / yasetta
to love (to do something): tanoshimu / tanoshimimasu
to make sure : tashkameru / tashkamemasu / tashkamete (BUT “I’m not sure”→”Yoku wakaranai“)
to make: suru / shimasu / shitte / shimashta
to manage to do something: dekiru / dekimasu / dekitte / dekimashta
to marry : kekkon suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to mean : …to iu imi desu / o imi shimasu
to meet : au / aimasu
to miss (fail): hazureru / hazuremasu / hazureta
to miss (the train): nori okureru / okuretta (Ex: ‘I missed my train!’→’Densha ni nori okuretta‘)
to mix: mazeru / mazemasu / mazette / mazetta (mazemashta)
to move : ugoku / ugokimasu / ugoite / ugoita (Ex:’Don’t move!’=’Ugokunai de !‘)
to must: must do: ~nakereba narimasen / …must not do: ~shi te wa ikemasen
to need : iru / irimasu (irimasen / irinai=je n’ai pas besoin)
to note : kizuku / kizukimasu / kizuita
to offer : ageru / agemasu / agette / agetta
to open : akeru / akemasu / akete / aketa
to order (place an order) : chuumon suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to organize – plan : kumi-tateru / kumi-tatemasu
to park : tomeru / tomemasu / tomette / tomemashta
to pass (time) : kakaru / kakarimasu (Ex:‘It takes 20 min.’→’Ni ju pun kakarimasu‘)
to paste: kuttsukimasu
to pay: harau / haraimasu/ harate / harata
to phone: denwa shimasu / denwa o kakemasu
to play : asobu / asobimasu
to plug in (electrical outlet): sasu / sashimasu
to plunge : tobikomu / tobikomimasu / tobikonde / tobikonda
to prefer : … no hoga suki (Ex:’Which one do you prefer?’→’Dochira no hoga suki desu ka ?‘)
to prepare: jumbi suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to promise : yakusoku suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to pronounce : hatsuon suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to protect : mamoru / mamorimasu
to puke : haku / hakimasu / hakimashta (Ex: ‘I want to puke’: hakitai/hakiso)
to push : osu / oshimasu / ose / oshita
to push on : osu / oshimasu / oshite / oshimashta
to put: oku / okimasu / oite / okimashta (oita) (Ex:’Where did you put my keys?’→’Doko ni kagi oita?‘)
to queue, to stand in line : narabu / narabimasu
to rain : ‘It’s raining’→ ‘Ame ga fut-te imasu’
to reach : todoku / todokimasu
to read: yomu / yomimasu / yonde / yomimashta
to receive (something) : uketoru / uketorimasu / uketotta / uketoranakata (‘I didn’t receive it!’)
to recharge (a phone, a computer) : juden suru (Ex:’I need to recharge my phone’→’Keitai o juden shinaito ikemasen/ikenai‘)
to recognize: mitomeru / mitomemasu / mitomenai
to recommend : susumeru / susumemasu
to refund : hensai suru
to refuse : kotowaru / kotowarimasu / kotowatte / kotowatta
to regret : kokai suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to rejoin : sanka suru
to remember of something : oboeru / oboemasu (Ex: ‘I don’t remember’: oboete imasen (oboemasen) / ‘to recall’=oboeru)
to remember: omoi-dashimasu / omoi-dasu / omoidashta
to rent : kasu / kashimasu / kashita
to repeat : mo ichido iimasu / kurikaeshimasu (Ex: Could you repeat please? → ‘Mo ichido it-te kuremasen ka ?‘)
to reply : kotaeru / kotaemasu (An answer=kotae)
to rest : yasumu / yasumimasu
to return (something): kaesu / kaeshimasu / kaeshte / kaeshimashta
to return (to the previous position) : modoru / modorimasu
to ride (aboard the train) : … ni noru / norimasu / notte / norimashta
to run : hashiru / hashirimasu / hashite / hashirimashta (hashita) / hashiranai de (=’Don’t run!’)
to save (on a computer) : save suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to say : iiu / (…to) iimasu (Ex: He said “it stinks!” → Kare wa Kusai to itta.)
to scratch : kaku / kakimasu / kaite / kaita
to see / watch: miru / mimasu / mite / mimashta
to sell : uru / urimasu (‘I’m selling’=’Ute imasu’)
to send (an email) : meeru suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to send (postal mail) : okuru / okurimasu / okurite / okurimashta
to send (an sms) : meeru o okurimasu
to separate : wakeru / wakemasu / wakete / waketa
to serve as (use) : tsukau / tsukaimasu
to shake : furu / furimasu / futte / futta
to share : wakeru / wakemasu / wakete / waketa
to shave : hige o soru / sorimasu / sotte / sotta
to show : miseru / misemasu / misete / miseta
to sign : shomei shimasu / sain shimasu
to sing : utau / utaimasu
to sit down : suwaru / suwarimasu / suwatte / suwarimashta
to sleep : neru / nemasu / neteimasu (=’I’m sleeping’)
to sleep: nemuru / nemurimasu (Ex:”I slept until 10am”→ “(watashi wa) ju-ji made nemurimashta“)
to slide : suberu / suberimasu / subette / suberimashta
to slow down (in a car): speed otosu / otoshimashta
to slow down : yukuri hashiru / hashite (=’Slow down!’)
to smear : yogosu / yogoshimasu / yogoshita
to smell: niou / nioimasu / niotte / niotta
to smile: niko niko suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to smoke: suu / suimasu (Ex: ‘Tabako o suu ? = Do you smoke?)
to speak : hanasu / hanashimasu (Ex: “Do you speak english?” → “Eigo hanasemasu ka ?“)
to spend : tsukau / tsukaimasu
to spend the night / sleep : tomaru / tomarimasu
to stand up : tatsu / tachimasu / tatte / tachimashta
to start : hajimeru / hajimemasu / hajimete / hajimeta
to stay : todomaru / todomarimasu
to steal / rob : nusumu / nusumimasu / nusumimashta (‘… has been stolen’: nusumareta)
to stop (a thief) : taiho suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to stop : tomaru / tomarimasu / tomatte / tomarimashta
to study: benkyou suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta (Ex:”I’m learning japanese by myself”: “nihongo o jibun de benkyou shimasu“)
to stung / get stung by : sasu / sashimasu / sashimashta
to suspend/hang : tsuru / tsurimasu / tsutte / tsurimashta
to swallow : nomikomu / nomikomimasu / nomikonde / nomikomimashta
to swap, exchange : torikaeru / kaemasu / kaete / kaeta
to sweat : ase ga demasu / deru (Ex:‘I’m sweating’ → ‘Ase ga deteimasu‘)
to swim : oyogu / oyogimasu / oyoide / oyoida
to take : toru / torimasu / totte / totta
to take (someone with you) : tsureru / tsuremasu
to take a medicine : nomu / nomimasu
to take a medicine: kusuri o nomu / nomimasu
to take a picture : shashin o toru / torimasu
to take a shower: shawa o abiru / abimasu
to take care of (something) : …no sewa o suru / shimasu
to take off (plane): ririkusuru / ririkushita / ririkushinai
to take something to (to bring): mottekuru / mottekimasu / mottekite / mottekimashta
to taste : aji o mimasu
to teach : oshieru / oshiemasu / oshiete / oshiemashta (oshieta) (Ex:’I teach english’=’Eigo oshiete imasu‘)
to tell: iu / iimasu / imashta (itta)
to thank : orei o iu / iimasu
to think: omou / omoimasu /omotta
to throw away : suteru / sutemasu / sutete / sutetemashta / sutenai / sutemasen
to throw: suteru / sutemasu / sutete / suteta
to tidy : katazukeru / katazukemasu / katazukete / katazuketa (Ex:’Tidy up your room’→’Heya wa katazukete !‘)
to to get started : sutaato suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to topple (make fall) : taosu / taoshimasu / taoshta
to touch: sawaru / sawarimasu / sawate / sawata
to transfer (money) : sookin suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to translate : hon-yaku suru / shimasu
to travel : ryoko suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to try (on) (to do something / clothes) : yatemimasu / yatemiru / yatemite / yatemimashta (Ex:”Je peux essayer ?” → “Yatemite ii desu ka ?“)
to turn : magaru / magarimasu / magate / magata
to turn off (the light) : kesu / keshimasu
to turn on the light: tsukeru / tsukemasu (to be turned on: tsuku)
to understand : wakaru / wakarimasu
to undress: nugu / nugumasu / nuide / nugimashta
to use : tsukau / tsukaimasu / tsukate
to verify : shiraberu / shirabemasu / shirabete / shirabemashta
to visit : homon suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta (Visit tokyo,friends…) — kenbutsu suru (travel)
to wait : matsu / machimasu / matte / machimashta
to wake up : okiru / okimasu / okita / okita
to walk (stroll/hike) : sanpo suru / shimasu / shite / shimashta
to walk around, go on a stroll : sanpo suru / shimasu
to walk: aruku / arukimasu / arukimashta
to want : hoshigaru / hoshigarimasu
to wash : arau / araimasu
to wash the dishes : sara arau / araimasu
to watch (= see) : miru / mimasu / mitte / mimashta
to wear a hat: kaburu / kaburimasu / kabutta
to wear a pant/socks: haku / hakimasu
to wear clothes: kiru / kimasu
to win : katsu / katshimasu / katshimashta (I won ! → ‘katta!‘)
to wipe : fuku / fukimasu / fuita / fuite / fuiteimasu (= I wipe)
to withdraw (money) : hikidasu / hikidashimasu (Ex:‘I must withdraw money’→ ‘Okane o hikidasanakia’)
to work : hataraku / hatarakimasu / hataraite / hataraita
to worry : shimpai shimasu (Ex: ‘Don’t worry’=’Shimpai shinai de’)
to write : kaku / kakimasu / kaite / kakimashta
to yell : sakebu / sakebimasu (scream: donaru / donarimasu)