Ready to learn some Japanese verbs, or どうし (動詞)? While 100 words seem like a lot, there are 898 Pokémon species combined. If you think about it, our list is less than one-tenth of them. How many of them do you know, and how often will you use them in daily Japanese conversations (the verbs, not the Pokémon)?
Sure, the number of words you know says a lot about your Japanese language level. For example, if you know 500 to 1,000 basic Japanese words, you’re unofficially a beginner. Bump it up to 2,000 words, and you can pat yourself on the back because then you’re a full-fledged intermediate. Advanced learner? That’s roughly 8,000 words.
Verbs are the backbone of any language, and Japanese is no exception. Now, let’s take a look at some essential beginner Japanese verbs that appear in almost every conversation!
How to Learn Japanese Verbs
If there’s one thing more important than remembering new Japanese vocabulary, it’s learning the right words. This is why learning basic Japanese verbs shouldn’t just be basic — it should be essential. After getting familiar with the important grammar patterns, what you need to do next is implement them and broaden your mental vocabulary library.
Before we get to the point, we want to make sure that you already have a strong foundation for Japanese verbs. This will be a simple and comprehensive cheat sheet, where we won’t be diving into verb modifications and grammar rules. For that, check out our Japanese verb guide.
1. Japanese Verbs vs English Verbs
Let’s break down the basic sentence structure in the English language: subject, followed by a verb, and an object. For example, “I (subject) buy (verb) a book (object).” In all scenarios, a verb must precede the object to make the phrase grammatically accepted.
In Japanese, the main components are the same, but the order is different — the object goes before the verb.
| Subject | Object | Verb |
| 私は watashi ha | ご飯を gohan o | 食べる taberu |
This grammar rule might cause a lot of beginner learners a spin on their heads (as most language follows the same sentence structure as English), but it gets easier with practice — and, conveniently, with a simple Japanese language hack, too.
Japanese speakers like to keep things short and concise. Unlike English, the Japanese language only needs at least one verb to make a complete sentence. If both the subject and object are obvious, omitting them is valid.
A: 田中さん、ご飯もう食べている？
A: Tanaka-san, gohan mou tabete iru?
A: Tanaka-san, have you eaten your meal?
B: 僕もう食べた。
B: Tabeta.
B: I have.
In the example above, the context is clear: the object is “meal” (ごはん also means “rice”) and the subject is the person being questioned. This shortcut is partly why you’ll notice a slight glitch in Japanese-to-English translations, especially when you don’t provide all the necessary elements most languages require.
2. Japanese Has No Singular or Plural Verbs
In other ways, too, the Japanese language is simple. Singular and plural verbs don’t exist, and regardless of whether it’s one, or two — or a hundred — the verb stays the same. To prove our point, take a look at two examples.
レストランで一人のお客様は食べている。
Resutoran de hitori no okyakusama ha tabete iru.
One person is eating at the restaurant.
レストランで10人のお客様は食べている。
Resutoran de juunin no okyakusama ha tabete iru.
10 people are eating at the restaurant.
In English, quantifiers affect the verb. Singular nouns use is, while plural nouns use are. When the verb matches the subject, that’s called subject-verb agreement. There are also languages that are gendered, like Spanish, French, and Arabic. In Japanese, it doesn’t matter.
3. Japanese Verb Conjugations
Japanese verbs are split into three groups: Ru-verbs, U-verbs, and irregular verbs. Which of these categories an action word belongs to affects its conjugation.
| Conjugation Form | Ru-verb | U-verb | Irregular verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form | みる (miru) | 飲む (nomu) | くる (kuru) |
| Past Dictionary form | みた (mita) | 飲んだ (nonda) | きた (kita) |
| Negative Dictionary form | みない (minai) | 飲まない (nomanai) | こない (konai) |
| Present (ます) | みます (mimasu) | 飲みます (nomimasu) | きます (ikimasu) |
| Present negative | みません (mimasen) | 飲みません (nomimasen) | きません (ikimasen) |
| Past affirmative | みました (mimashita) | 飲みました (nomimashita) | きました (kimashita) |
| Past negative | みませんでした (mimasendeshita) | 飲みませんでした (nomimasendeshita) | きませんでした (kimasendeshita) |
You may have noticed that most verbs in Japanese follow general logic. Ru-verbs and u-verbs conjugate pretty predictably, where negative conjugations for みる (miru) みない (minai), and for のむ (nomu) are のまない (nomanai). However, for irregular verbs, they seem to refuse to follow the same conjugation logic where the negative form of くる is こない.
One more thing: the table above represents four of the most basic conjugations that don’t include verb-ing (such as eating, drinking, walking). For this, you will need to change the word into its て-form — how it’s modified, again, depends on the type of verb it is.
Types of Japanese Verbs
For this specific guide, instead of grouping them based on the three types listed above, we’ll be categorizing the words based on social contexts, such as when and where they are usually used. We like to think it’s the best way to remember them. Plus, it’s also simpler and more effective — just remember not to get confused between Ru-verbs and U-verbs; transitive and intransitive verbs.
If you want to get a more complete guide, visit our article on types of Japanese verbs and verb conjugations.
Common Japanese Verbs for Mental Situations and Emotions
Let’s start with words that you can use to express different emotions or different mental situations such as to cry, to be happy, or to know. These words are essentially intangible or not involved with physical actions.
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 驚く | おどろく | odoroku | to be surprised |
| 泣く | なく | naku | cry |
| 怒る | おこる | okoru | get angry |
| 笑う | わらう | warau | laugh |
| 怖がる | こわがる | kowagaru | fear |
| 惚れる | ほれる | horeru | fall in love |
| 慌てる | あわてる | awateru | panic, be flustered |
| 慰める | なぐさめる | nagusameru | comfort, console |
| 思う | おもう | omou | think |
| 考える | かんがえる | kangaeru | consider |
| 褒める | ほめる | homeru | praise |
| 支える | ささえる | sasaeru | support |
| 忘れる | わすれる | wasureru | forget |
| 覚える | おぼえる | oboeru | remember, learn |
| 疲れる | つかれる | tsukareru | get tired |
| 信じる | しんじる | shinjiru | to believe |
| 要る | いれる | iru | to need |
| 間違える | まちがえる | machigaeru | make a mistake |
| 知る | しる | shiru | to know |
| 苦しむ | くるしむ | kurushimu | suffer |
| 痛む | いたむ | itamu | become hurt, damaged |
| 可愛がる | かわいがる | kawaigaru | love, be affectionate |
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Japanese Verbs Commonly Used For Daily Activities at Home
Learn the words for doing everyday activities in your home or for your daily routines. These verbs are essential in describing what you do in your daily life.
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 住む | すむ | sumu | to live |
| 洗う | あらう | arau | to wash |
| 付ける | つける | tsukeru | to turn on (light) |
| 帰る | かえる | kaeru | to return (home) |
| 切る | きる | kiru | to cut |
| 手伝う | てつだう | tetsudau | help |
| 飲む | のむ | nomu | to drink |
| 食べる | たべる | taberu | to eat |
| 浴びる | あびる | abiru | bathe |
| 磨く | みがく | migaku | brush (teeth) |
| 寝る | ねる | neru | to sleep |
| 触る | さわる | fureru | touch |
| 着る | きる | kiru | to wear |
| 届ける | とどける | todokeru | deliver |
| 焼く | やく | yaku | bake |
| 混ぜる | まぜる | mazeru | mix |
| 開ける | あける | akeru | to open |
| 入る | はいる | hairu | to enter |
| 出る | でる | deru | to leave |
| 作る | つくる | tsukuru | to make |
| 置く | おく | oku | to put |
| 遊ぶ | あそぶ | asobu | to play |
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Japanese Verbs For Physical Actions
Now to get into the action! These verbs describe physical actions such as running and swimming, or going and coming to a place. You will inevitably use these words in daily conversation, so here’s a list to get started:
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 歩く | あるく | aruku | walk |
| 走る | はしる | hashiru | run |
| 登る | のぼる | noboru | climb |
| 泳ぐ | およぐ | oyogu | swim |
| 座る | すわる | suwaru | sit |
| 飛ぶ | とぶ | tobu | to fly |
| 来る | くる | kuru* | to come |
| 行く | いく | iku | to go |
| 通う | かよう | kayou | commute |
| 踊る | おどる | odoru | dance |
| 抱く | だく | daku | embrace, hug |
| 会う | あう | au | meet |
| 働く | はたらく | hataraku | to work |
| 書く | かく | kaku | to write |
| 消す | けす | kesu | to erase |
| 聞く | きく | kiku | to listen |
| 待つ | まつ | matsu | to wait |
| 動く | うごく | ugoku | to move |
| 次ぐ | つぐ | tsugu | be next |
| 見る | みる | miru | to see |
| 見せる | みせる | miseru | to show |
| 起きる | おきる | okiru | to get up |
| 降りる | おりる | oriru | to get off |
| 逃げる | にげる | nigeru | run away, escape |
| 倒れる | たおれる | taoreru | fall down, collapse |
| 急ぐ | いそぐ | isogu | to hurry |
| あげる | ageru | give | |
| もらう | morau | receive | |
| 終わる | おわる | owaru | to finish |
| 買う | かう | kau | to buy |
| 返す | かえす | kaesu | to return |
| 代わる | かわる | kawaru | switch |
| 押す | おす | osu | to push |
| 引く | ひく | hiku | to pull |
“Kuru” (来る, “to come”) is an irregular verb because it does not follow the standard conjugation patterns of Godan (U-verbs) or Ichidan (Ru-verbs). Its stem changes unpredictably across forms—for example, the negative is konai instead of kuranai, and the volitional is koyou instead of kurou. These irregular stem changes are why it must be memorized separately.
Verbs are one part of the equation, but in order to make sentences, you will need to string them together with a grammar function unique to Japanese called particles.
Japanese Verbs for Verbal Expressions
Verbs for verbal actions, such as to speak, to sing, or to ask, are essential to know how to say things like what language you speak or what song you want to sing. So, let’s get started on some key terms with this short, non-exhaustive list:
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 話す | はなす | hanasu | to speak |
| 言う | いう | iu | say |
| 歌う | うたう | utau | sing |
| 話す | しゃべる | shaberu | to talk; to chat |
| 答える | こたえる | kotaeru | answer |
| 教える | おしえる | oshieru | teach, show |
| 聞く | きく | kiku | to ask |
| 頼む | たのむ | tanomu | to ask (favor) |
| 呼ぶ | よぶ | yobu | to call |
Irregular Japanese Verbs
Japanese verb conjugation is very regular, as is usual for an agglutinative language, but there are a number of exceptions. The best-known irregular verbs are the common verbs する suru “do” and 来る kuru “come”, sometimes categorized as the two Group 3 verbs
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| する | suru | to do | |
| 電話する | でんわする | denwa suru | to call |
| 勉強する | べんきょうする | benkyou suru | to study |
| 宿題する | しゅくだいする | shukudai suru | to do homework |
| 復習する | ふくしゅうする | fukushuu suru | to review |
| 料理する | りょうりする | ryouri suru | cook |
| 練習する | れんしゅうする | renshuu suru | practice |
| 結婚する | けっこんする | kekkon suru | get married |
| 掃除する | そうじする | souji suru | to clean |
| 散歩する | さんぽする | sanpo suru | to take a stroll |
What’s Next After Learning Japanese Verbs?
Solely memorizing these essential words isn’t enough. Applying them to simple situations is one thing, but speaking Japanese goes beyond present, past, and negative tenses. For example, the Japanese language makes far more use of passive verbs than English (head to our guide on Japanese passive voice). Besides that, there will also come a time when you want to use volitional forms (“Let’s do it” in English).
For more practice on how to apply these verbs in daily conversation, consider taking our courses at Coto Academy, where our professional teachers can coach you on how to speak naturally and fluently, as well as gradually expand your vocabulary.
We currently offer classes in Tokyo and Yokohama, as well as online classes, with a maximum of eight students per class! Ready to learn Japanese? Check out our in-person or online classes to start ,and if you’re interested, fill out the form below!
There’s a lot to take in, but we’re guiding you one step at a time. After this, learn to make a wider range of expressions and draw in detail by learning about Japanese adjectives and adverbs.
FAQ:
What are the most common Japanese verbs for beginners?
Some of the most essential verbs include する (suru – to do), 行く (iku – to go), 見る (miru – to see), and 食べる (taberu – to eat).
How many Japanese verbs should I learn first?
Start with around 50–100 essential verbs. These cover most daily conversations and prepare you for JLPT N5 and N4.
Are Japanese verbs difficult to learn?
Japanese verbs are simpler than English in some ways (no singular/plural agreement), but conjugations can be tricky. Learning them in groups with practice helps
How can I practice Japanese verbs?
Use them in short sentences, practice with a language partner, or take conversation-focused lessons with professional teachers at Coto Academy.
Ready to go to the next chapter of our Japanese learning guide? Read our other comprehensive article on: