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Vocabulary 18 min read

100 Essential Japanese Verbs Every Learner Should Know

Master the top 100 Japanese verbs with conjugations, example sentences, and memory tips. Ideal for beginners to intermediate students.

Editorial Team
October 28, 2024
100 Essential Japanese Verbs Every Learner Should Know

Japanese verbs are fundamental to constructing sentences and expressing actions. This comprehensive list covers the 100 most frequently used Japanese verbs, organized by type and common usage categories.

Table of Contents

  1. Ichidan Verbs (る Verbs)
  2. Godan Verbs (う Verbs)
  3. Irregular Verbs
  4. Usage Tips

Ichidan Verbs

Daily Activities

  1. 食べる (たべる) / taberu - to eat
  2. 見る (みる) / miru - to see, to watch
  3. 寝る (ねる) / neru - to sleep
  4. 起きる (おきる) / okiru - to wake up
  5. 着る (きる) / kiru - to wear (clothes)
  6. 出る (でる) / deru - to exit, to leave
  7. 入れる (いれる) / ireru - to put in
  8. 浴びる (あびる) / abiru - to shower, to bathe
  9. 借りる (かりる) / kariru - to borrow
  10. 教える (おしえる) / oshieru - to teach

Mental Activities

  1. 考える (かんがえる) / kangaeru - to think
  2. 覚える (おぼえる) / oboeru - to remember
  3. 忘れる (わすれる) / wasureru - to forget
  4. 調べる (しらべる) / shiraberu - to investigate
  5. 決める (きめる) / kimeru - to decide
  6. 見せる (みせる) / miseru - to show
  7. 伝える (つたえる) / tsutaeru - to convey
  8. 答える (こたえる) / kotaeru - to answer

Change and Emotions

  1. 変える (かえる) / kaeru - to change
  2. 負ける (まける) / makeru - to lose
  3. 逃げる (にげる) / nigeru - to escape
  4. 落ちる (おちる) / ochiru - to fall
  5. 続ける (つづける) / tsuzukeru - to continue
  6. 捨てる (すてる) / suteru - to throw away

Godan Verbs

Movement

  1. 行く (いく) / iku - to go
  2. 歩く (あるく) / aruku - to walk
  3. 走る (はしる) / hashiru - to run
  4. 帰る (かえる) / kaeru - to return
  5. 登る (のぼる) / noboru - to climb
  6. 降りる (おりる) / oriru - to get off
  7. 通う (かよう) / kayou - to commute
  8. 飛ぶ (とぶ) / tobu - to fly
  9. 泳ぐ (およぐ) / oyogu - to swim
  10. 止まる (とまる) / tomaru - to stop

Communication

  1. 話す (はなす) / hanasu - to speak
  2. 聞く (きく) / kiku - to listen, to ask
  3. 言う (いう) / iu - to say
  4. 呼ぶ (よぶ) / yobu - to call
  5. 読む (よむ) / yomu - to read
  6. 書く (かく) / kaku - to write
  7. 待つ (まつ) / matsu - to wait
  8. 使う (つかう) / tsukau - to use
  9. 会う (あう) / au - to meet
  10. 喋る (しゃべる) / shaberu - to chat

Daily Life Actions

  1. 買う (かう) / kau - to buy
  2. 売る (うる) / uru - to sell
  3. 働く (はたらく) / hataraku - to work
  4. 休む (やすむ) / yasumu - to rest
  5. 遊ぶ (あそぶ) / asobu - to play
  6. 洗う (あらう) / arau - to wash
  7. 作る (つくる) / tsukuru - to make
  8. 送る (おくる) / okuru - to send
  9. 持つ (もつ) / motsu - to hold
  10. 取る (とる) / toru - to take

State Changes

  1. なる / naru - to become
  2. 始まる (はじまる) / hajimaru - to begin
  3. 終わる (おわる) / owaru - to end
  4. 変わる (かわる) / kawaru - to change
  5. 太る (ふとる) / futoru - to gain weight
  6. 痩せる (やせる) / yaseru - to lose weight
  7. 直る (なおる) / naoru - to be fixed
  8. 切る (きる) / kiru - to cut
  9. 開く (ひらく) / hiraku - to open
  10. 閉じる (とじる) / tojiru - to close

Mental States and Actions

  1. 分かる (わかる) / wakaru - to understand
  2. 知る (しる) / shiru - to know
  3. 思う (おもう) / omou - to think
  4. 信じる (しんじる) / shinjiru - to believe
  5. 探す (さがす) / sagasu - to search
  6. 選ぶ (えらぶ) / erabu - to choose
  7. 比べる (くらべる) / kuraberu - to compare
  8. 頑張る (がんばる) / ganbaru - to do one’s best

Giving and Receiving

  1. あげる / ageru - to give
  2. もらう / morau - to receive
  3. くれる / kureru - to give (to me)
  4. 渡す (わたす) / watasu - to hand over
  5. 貸す (かす) / kasu - to lend
  6. 返す (かえす) / kaesu - to return

Miscellaneous Actions

  1. 過ごす (すごす) / sugosu - to spend (time)
  2. 守る (まもる) / mamoru - to protect
  3. 運ぶ (はこぶ) / hakobu - to carry
  4. 集める (あつめる) / atsumeru - to collect
  5. 困る (こまる) / komaru - to be troubled
  6. 笑う (わらう) / warau - to laugh

Irregular Verbs

  1. する / suru - to do

    • 勉強する (べんきょうする) / benkyou suru - to study
    • 結婚する (けっこんする) / kekkon suru - to marry
    • 練習する (れんしゅうする) / renshuu suru - to practice
    • 運転する (うんてんする) / unten suru - to drive
    • 説明する (せつめいする) / setsumei suru - to explain
    • 予約する (よやくする) / yoyaku suru - to reserve
    • 用意する (よういする) / youi suru - to prepare
    • 心配する (しんぱいする) / shinpai suru - to worry
    • 掃除する (そうじする) / souji suru - to clean
    • 電話する (でんわする) / denwa suru - to telephone

  2. 来る (くる) / kuru - to come

    • 持って来る (もってくる) / motte kuru - to bring
    • 連れて来る (つれてくる) / tsurete kuru - to bring someone
    • 出て来る (でてくる) / dete kuru - to come out
    • 帰って来る (かえってくる) / kaette kuru - to come back

Usage Tips

  1. Verb Groups

    • Ichidan: Ends in る, stem ends in い or え
    • Godan: Ends in う、く、ぐ、す、つ、ぬ、ぶ、む、る
    • Irregular: する and くる and their compounds

  2. Common Conjugation Patterns

    • Present/Future (Dictionary form)
    • Past (~た/~だ)
    • Te-form (~て/~で)
    • Negative (~ない)
    • Polite (~ます)

  3. Key Points to Remember

    • Learn the dictionary form first
    • Practice all basic conjugations
    • Pay attention to transitivity pairs
    • Learn common verb compounds
    • Notice formal vs. casual usage

  4. Common Verb Combinations

    • ~ています for ongoing actions/states
    • ~てください for requests
    • ~てみる for trying something
    • ~ておく for preparation
    • ~てしまう for completion/regret

Note: This article is part of our comprehensive Japanese learning series. Don’t forget to check out our other guides on adjectives, grammar, and more.