Verbs matter for travel
Understanding japanese verb conjugation basics is your first step to real conversation in Tokyo. You’ll see verbs everywhere, from subway announcements to restaurant menus. Mastering how to tweak a verb ending lets you say “I go,” “I went,” or “I don’t understand” with confidence.
By the end of this guide you’ll know how to form plain and polite verbs, spot irregulars, and plug verbs into sentences. Let’s dive in.
Identify verb groups
Japanese verbs fall into three groups based on their dictionary endings, so you can apply the right conjugation rule. As ThoughtCo explains, Group I verbs end in a “u” sound, Group II verbs in “iru/eru,” and Group III are irregular (ThoughtCo).
Group I u-verbs
- Also called godan or “five-step” verbs
- End in any う-line kana: う, く, す, つ, ぬ, ふ, む, ゆ, る
- Stem vowel shifts through a-, i-, u-, e-, o- lines when conjugated
- Examples: 書く (kaku, to write), 話す (hanasu, to speak), 行く (iku, to go)
Group II ru-verbs
- Also known as ichidan or “one-step” verbs
- End in いる (iru) or える (eru)
- Conjugate by dropping る and adding new endings
- Examples: 食べる (taberu, to eat), 見る (miru, to see), 信じる (shinjiru, to believe)
Group III irregular verbs
- Only two major verbs: する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come)
- A handful of other exceptions like ある (aru, to exist) and 行く’s past form irregularity
- Must be memorized individually
Conjugate plain forms
Plain forms (dictionary forms) appear in casual speech and independent clauses. You’ll use them with friends, in dependent clauses, and in writing guides.
| Verb type | Non-past | Past | Negative | Past-negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ru-verbs | 食べる | 食べた | 食べない | 食べなかった |
| U-verbs | 行く | 行った | 行かない | 行かなかった |
| Irregular | する, 来る | した, 来た | しない, 来ない | しなかった, 来なかった |
Non-past and past
- Ru-verbs drop る, add た for past
- U-verbs follow one of four patterns, often changing final u to an i-stem plus ta (except 行く→行った)
- Irregular: する→した, 来る→来た (Tae Kim)
Negative and past-negative
- To form plain negative, replace final u with anai (u-verbs) or drop ru add nai (ru-verbs)
- For past-negative, remove い from nai, add かった to get nakatta
- Irregular negative: する→しない; こない→こなかった
Form polite speech
In polite contexts you end sentences with 〜ます or です. Polite forms are essential for customer service, hotels, or any formal interaction.
Create masu-form
- Drop final u (for u-verbs) or る (for ru-verbs) to get the stem
- Attach ます for non-past polite, ました for past polite
- Irregular: する→します/しました, 来る→来ます/来ました
Tip: Don’t add ます inside a clause, only at the end of each independent clause.
Use desu for politeness
- For sentences ending with nouns or adjectives, add です (non-past) or でした (past)
- Avoid だ in polite settings
- Nouns and noun phrases simply take です: 学生です (gakusei desu, I’m a student)
Link up your verbs with japanese-politeness-levels to see how plain and polite forms interact.
Use verbs in context
Need to hail a taxi or grab a snack quickly? Let’s slot verbs into common travel scenarios so you can communicate in Tokyo from day one.
Transportation phrases
- 電車に乗る (densha ni noru, to ride the train)
- バスを降りる (basu o oriru, to get off the bus)
- 切符を買う (kippu o kau, to buy a ticket)
Pair these with japanese-transportation-vocabulary and japanese-train-announcements-translation so you catch every stop.
Dining and shopping
- 注文する (chūmon suru, to order)
- 食べる (taberu, to eat)
- 値段を聞く (nedan o kiku, to ask the price)
Combine verbs with japanese-restaurant-phrases-ordering and japanese-shopping-phrases-useful. Remember to add ください (kudasai) after the masu-form to turn it into “please.”
Emergencies and basics
- 助けを呼ぶ (tasuke o yobu, to call for help)
- 病院に行く (byōin ni iku, to go to a hospital)
- トイレを探す (toire o sagasu, to look for the bathroom)
Keep japanese-emergency-phrases and basic-japanese-phrases-tokyo-travel on speed dial.
Practice and resources
Building muscle memory with verbs takes a bit of regular practice. Here are some friendly ways to drill patterns.
Drill patterns
- Create flashcards with dictionary, masu, negative, and past forms
- Write short diary entries in Japanese using one new verb per day
- Record yourself saying travel phrases and play them back
Avoid common mistakes
- Mixing plain and polite in the same clause can confuse listeners
- Watch out for u-verb vowel shifts (買う→買わない vs 見る→見ない)
- Check common-japanese-mistakes-avoid for more traps to sidestep
Leverage internal guides
- Review japanese-sentence-structure to place verbs correctly
- Brush up on japanese-particle-usage so your sentences flow
- Consult katakana-hiragana-basics if you need to read or write verb endings
Recap key points
- Japanese verbs split into three groups: u-verbs, ru-verbs, and irregulars
- Plain forms use dictionary or simple stem changes, polite forms add ます/です
- Negative forms end with ない and past-negative with なかった
- Plug verbs into real scenarios—trains, dining, emergencies—to cement them
- Practice daily with flashcards, writing, and our other language guides
With these japanese verb conjugation basics under your belt, you’ll feel more at ease ordering ramen, catching a train, or asking for help. Now go out there and give those verbs a spin—you’ve got this.
Frequently asked questions
1. How can I tell if a verb is a ru-verb or an u-verb?
Check the ending before る. If it’s an e-line or i-line kana plus る, it’s probably a ru-verb. Otherwise it’s usually an u-verb, with a few exceptions (Tofugu).
2. Can I mix plain and polite forms in one conversation?
It’s best to stick to one level in each sentence. You can switch between sentences—plain with friends, polite with staff—but avoid mixing within a single clause.
3. What are the most common irregular verbs?
The big two are する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come). A handful more like ある (aru, to exist) show irregular passive forms, but you’ll mostly need suru and kuru.
4. Do I need to memorize all conjugation patterns?
Focus on ru-verb and u-verb rules first, since they cover most verbs. Practice a few irregulars separately. With exposure you’ll internalize patterns quickly.
5. Where can I hear natural verb usage?
Listen to Japanese podcasts, watch local train announcements, or try language-exchange apps. You’ll pick up common endings and polite speech in real contexts.
