Basic Japanese
Verb conjugations, kana charts, adjectives, kanji, and essential grammar — the foundation of Japanese.
Verb Conjugations
Formal Verbs
| Present/Future Tense | ~I + ます |
| Past Tense | ~I + ました |
| Progressive Tense | ~TE + います |
| Negative Present/Future | ~I + ません |
| Negative Past Tense | ~I + ませんでした |
| Command Form | ~TE + ください ~I + なさい ⬇ |
| Negative Command | ~A + ないでください |
| Potential Form = can / able to | (U-Verbs) ~E + ます (RU-Verbs) ~A + られます する → できます くる → こられます |
| Want to... | ~I + たいです |
| Don't want to... ! | ~I + たくないです |
| Let's... | ~I + ましょう |
| • Shall we.../Shall I ~ for you? | ~I + ましょうか |
| Passive Form = to be ~ed | (U-Verbs) ~A + れます (RU-Verbs) ~A + られます する → されます くる → こられます |
| Causative Form = to allow/force someone to ~ | (U-Verbs) ~A + せます (RU-Verbs) ~A + させます する → させます くる → こさせます |
Informal Verbs
| Present/Future Tense | ~U N |
| Past Tense | ~TA N |
| Progressive Tense | ~TE + いる N |
| Negative Present/Future | ~A + ない N |
| Negative Past Tense | ~A + なかった N |
| Command Form | ~TE |
| !! (U-Verbs) | ~E する → しろ |
| Usually considered rude! (RU-Verbs) | ~I + ろ くる → こい |
| Negative Command | ~A + ないで ~U + な !! |
| Potential Form | (U-Verbs) ~E + る N (RU-Verbs) ~A + られる する → できる くる → これる |
| Want to... | ~I + たい N |
| Don't want to... | ~I + たくない N |
| Let's... | ~OU |
| • Shall we.../Shall I ~ for you? | ~OU + か |
| Passive Form | (U-Verbs) ~A + れる (RU-Verbs) ~A + られる する → される くる → こられる |
| Causative Form | (U-Verbs) ~A + せる (RU-Verbs) ~A + させる する → させる くる → こさせる |
Verb Usages
| If... | ~E + ば ~U + と ~TA + ら |
| If not... | ~A + なければ ~A + ないと ~A + なかったら |
| Must/have to... | ~A + ないと → いけない N + なければ → ならない N |
| After... | ~TE + から ~TA + ら ~TA + あとで |
| Before... | ~U + まえに |
| Because... | N + から / ので |
| In order to... | ~U + ために |
| While... (at the same time) | ~I + ながら |
| Even if/when... | ~TE + も |
| May... (permissible) | ~TE + も + いい N |
| Try to... to attempt & check the result | ~TE + みる N |
| to make an effort | ~OU + とする N |
| Must not... | ~TE + はいけない N |
| To do in advance... | ~TE + おく N |
| To do too much... | ~I + すぎる N |
| To do... and so on. | ~TA + り + する N |
| To (irreversibly) do... | ~TE + しまう N |
| Combination Verb | ~I + VERB 2 |
| Chaining Phrases | ~TE + PHRASE 2 |
Conjugating Verbs
U-Verb / RU-Verb Stems
| U-VERB | RU-VERB | する | くる |
|---|---|---|---|
| はな.さ ~A | たべ. ~A | し ~A | こ |
| はな.し ~I | たべ. ~I | し ~I | き |
| はな.す ~U | たべ.る ~U | する ~U | くる |
| はな.せ ~E | たべ. れ | すれ ~E | くれ |
| はな.そう ~OU | たべ.よう ~OU | しよう ~OU | こよう |
| はな.して ~TE | たべ.て ~TE | して | きて |
| はな.した ~TA | たべ.た ~TA | した ~TA | きた |
U-Verb TE/TA Endings
| Final Kana of Verb | ~TE | ~TA |
|---|---|---|
| う, つ, る | → って | った |
| ぶ, む, ぬ | → んで | んだ |
| く | → いて | いた |
| ぐ | → いで | いだ |
| す | → して | した |
Exceptions
- いく (to go) in TE/TA-form becomes いって/いった
- The ~A ending for verbs ending in う is: わ
U-VERBS (THAT LOOK LIKE RU-VERBS)
いる (to need), はいる (to enter), しる (to know), きる (to cut), かえる (to go home), すべる (to slide), ける (to kick)
Kana Charts
Hiragana
| A | I | U | E | O | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
あa | いi | うu | えe | おo | |
| K | かka | きki | くku | けke | こko |
| S | さsa | しshi | すsu | せse | そso |
| T | たta | ちchi | つtsu | てte | とto |
| N | なna | にni | ぬnu | ねne | のno |
| H | はha | ひhi | ふfu | へhe | ほho |
| M | まma | みmi | むmu | めme | もmo |
| Y | やya | ゆyu | よyo | ||
| R | らra | りri | るru | れre | ろro |
| W | わwa | をwo | |||
| N | んn |
Katakana
| A | I | U | E | O | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
アa | イi | ウu | エe | オo | |
| K | カka | キki | クku | ケke | コko |
| S | サsa | シshi | スsu | セse | ソso |
| T | タta | チchi | ツtsu | テte | トto |
| N | ナna | ニni | ヌnu | ネne | ノno |
| H | ハha | ヒhi | フfu | ヘhe | ホho |
| M | マma | ミmi | ムmu | メme | モmo |
| Y | ヤya | ユyu | ヨyo | ||
| R | ラra | リri | ルru | レre | ロro |
| W | ワwa | ヲwo | |||
| N | ンn |
ソ
ン
ツ
シ
These katakana pairs look very similar — pay attention to stroke direction!
Forms of である
Forms of である (to be)
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |
|---|---|---|
| Present Tense | です | だ N |
| Past Tense | でした | だった N |
| Probable | でしょう | だろう ⬇ |
| Negative Present Tense | ではありません 1 | じゃない N |
| Negative Past Tense | ではありませんでした | じゃなかった N |
| Negative Probable | ではないでしょう | じゃないだろう |
- だろう is very direct. If you're unsure, it is safer to use でしょう.
- When nominalized (converted to a noun) だ changes to な before の, and である before こと.
Adjective Conjugation
i-ADJECTIVES
| Form | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| はやい | fast | N |
| はやさ NOUN FORM | speed | |
| はやく ADVERB FORM | quickly | |
| はやくて | fast and... | |
| はやかった | was fast | N |
| はやくない | not fast | |
| はやくなかった | wasn't fast | N |
| はやければ | if fast | |
| はやくなければ | if not fast | |
| はやすぎる | too fast | N |
NA-ADJECTIVES
| Form | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| げんきな | cheerful | N |
| げんき NOUN FORM | cheer | |
| げんきに ADVERB FORM | cheerfully | |
| げんきで | cheerful and... |
Adjectives that end in い are i-Adjectives, except where the final い is part of a kanji.
EASILY CONFUSED NA-ADJECTIVES
きれい (綺麗 / beautiful), ていねい (丁寧 / polite), ふこうへい (不公平 / unfair)
- Drop な from NA-Adjectives if followed by a form of である.
- いい (good) always conjugates as よい.
- It is possible (but uncommon) to add さ to a NA-Adj. when using it as a noun (ie. げんきさ).
JLPT Level N5 Kanji
Legend
Particles
は — Topic Marker
- Marks the topic of a **sentence**. (non-grammatical relationship)
- **Contrasts** one option or thing against others. (A vs. B, C, D)
- Used when elaborating on things already known to the listener.
車は私が運転しました。
As for the car, I was the one who drove it.
田中さんはおかねをもっています。
Mr. Tanaka has money. (he is rich)
が — Subject Marker
- Marks the subject of a **verb**. (grammatical relationship)
- **Distinguishes** one option or thing from others. (A vs. ???)
- Used when adding new things/information to a conversation.
- Used when describing specific things with adjectives.
- Marks objects of **potential-form verbs**. (can/able to)
- (Used as a conjunction [between phrases]) : '..., **but...**' or '**even though** ..., ...'
にほんごがすこしはなせます。
(I) can speak Japanese a little.
田中さんがおかねをもっています。
Mr. Tanaka has the money. (with him now)
を — Object Marker
- Marks the object of a verb.
- With verbs of motion, shows where the motion occurs.
くつをかいました。
(I) bought shoes.
そらをとぶ。
To fly (in) the sky.
じぶんのことをはなす。
To talk about (things of) one's self.
に — The "Aiming" Particle
- Marks an **indirect object** (the person/thing an action is done for/directed toward)
- Marks a destination, direction or specific **place** for an action. (to/at)
- Marks a **specific** point in time (ie. Monday / 3pm / 1972 / July)
- Marks a period of time that something repeats in. (ie. twice a week)
- Marks direct objects for: なる (to become), あう (to meet), のる (to ride)
かのじょにほんをあげた。
(I) gave her a book.
どようびにこうえんにいきましょう。
Let's go to the park on Saturday.
いちにちにコーヒーをにはいのむ。
(I) drink 2 cups of coffee a day.
と — The "Glue" Particle
- Marks a person that an action is done **with**.
- Links nouns to create a complete '**and**' group.
- Marks **quoted speech** or **phrasal objects**: おもう (to think), かく (to write)
- Shows a natural/predictable '**if-then**' relationship between clauses.
- Marks **onomatopoeic words**. (words that mimic sounds)
ボスとじょうしとけんかしました。
(I) had an argument with (my) boss and manager.
いすがこわれたとおもいます。
(I) think the chair broke.
こそこそとはなす
to speak in whispers
で — The "Enabling" Particle
- Marks a **place**, **area**, or **length of time** inside which something occurs.
- Marks a **method**, **tool** or **circumstance** under which something happens.
- Marks a **material** or substance; composition.
かんじをにねんでおぼえました。
(I) learned kanji in two years.
きょうはでんしゃできました。
Today (I) came by train.
ようもうでつくられたマフラー
a scarf made of wool
も — Even/Also Marker
- Used with other particles to add a meaning of 'also/too' or 'even.'
- (も replaces は, が, and を completely, but follows all other particles)
- Turns interrogative words (どこ, だれ, いつ, etc.) into **every~/all~** words.
おおさかにもいきました。
(I) also/even went to Osaka.
むししてもいいですよ。
It's okay even if (you) ignore (him).
かれはいつもそうです。
He is always like that.
か · へ · の · や
- Marks a sentence as a **question**.
- Links nouns to create an '**or**' group.
- Turns interrogative words into **some~** words.
だれ (who) + か = だれか (someone)
- Shows **possession**. (わたしの = my/mine)
- **Combines** two nouns.
かいしゃのくるま = the company car
くるまのかいしゃ = a car company
- Can be used instead of に to mark a **destination**.
- Links nouns to create an incomplete '**and**' group.
ほんやえんぴつ
books and pencils (and such)
だけ — Only/Just
- Marks a **limited** amount or extent of something. ('not more than')
- Used with できる (and other potential-form verbs) to mean 'as ~ as possible'
いちじかんだけまってください。
Please wait for just one hour.
できるだけはやくかいてください。
Please write it as quickly as you can.
かけるだけかいてください。
Please write as much as you can.
しか — Only (negative)
- Marks a firm **extent/limit** (usually one which presents a problem for the speaker).
- Emphasizes the negation of anything beyond the extent/limit.
- Therefore, しか is always used with a **negative** verb form.
せんえんしかもっていません。
I haven't but one thousand yen.
しゃしんでしかみたことがない。
I've never seen it except in pictures.
あなたにしかできない。
Only you can do it.
ほど — Degree/Extent
- Marks a degree or extent of something. (not small)
- Marks an approximate number or length of time.
- Marks the greater element in a **negative** comparison. ('not as ~ as')
そのくるまはこのくるまほどはやくないです。
That car is not as fast as this car.
はらがいたくなったほどわらいました。
I laughed so hard that my stomach became painful.
より — Comparison (than)
- Marks the lesser element in a positive comparison. ('more **than**')
- 'From ~' (when closing a private letter)
そのくるまはこのくるまよりはやいです。
That car is faster than this car.
でも — Possibility/Suggestion
- Marks a possibility or suggestion.
- Turns interrogative words into **any~** words.
- (Used as a conjunction [before a phrase]) : 'even so/but/however, ...'
おちゃでものみましょうか。
Shall we drink some tea or something?
いつでもでんわしてください。
Please call me anytime.
くらい — Approximate Degree
- Marks an approximate or negotiable degree, amount, or length of time.
- (speaker feels that the stated number/extent is a fair and/or reasonable estimate)
- Alternate form: **ぐらい**
かんじをじゅっかいくらいかくとわすれないよ。
If you write a kanji about 10 times, you won't forget it.
ばかり — Only/Exclusion
- Means 'only', or 'to the exclusion of other things'
- Informally, can be pronounced ばっかり / ばっか / ばかし for emphasis.
あのきょうしつはおんなのこばかりいます。
That classroom has nothing but girls in it.
かれのいうことはうそばかりだ。
Everything he says is a lie.
から — Starting Place/Reason
- Marks a **starting** place or time.
- Marks a source of information.
- Marks a reason when used after N.
ともだちからききました。
I heard about it from a friend.
さいふをわすれたからはらえない。
I can't pay because I forgot my wallet.
まで — Ending Place/Time
- Marks an **ending** place or time.
- When followed by に, means 'by/before'
かいぎはいちじからさんじまでです。
the meeting is from 1 o'clock until 3 o'clock.
あしたまでにレポートをかいてください。
Please write the report by tomorrow.
Comparison
ほうが — Comparison
- Marks the greater element in a positive comparison (より marks the lesser element).
- Can take past tense verbs even for non-past sentences.
しらべるよりせんせいにきいたほうがはやいです。
Rather than looking it up, it would be faster to ask the teacher.
Give/Receive
Give / Receive
あげる・もらう
※ くださる becomes ください when used as a request
Additional Grammar
ため — In order to
にほんにいくために
にほんごをべんきょうしている。
In order to go to Japan,
I am studying Japanese.
~ため + に: Adverb form ~ため + の: Adjective form
かどうか — Whether or not
このほんをかうかどうかかんがえています。
I'm considering whether or not to buy this book.
について — About/Regarding
このレポートはにほんのれきしについてです。
This report is about Japanese history.
Conjunctive Adverbs
| そして | Also, ... |
| だから | Therefore (so), ... |
| しかし | However (but), ... |
| でも | However (but), ... |
| だけど | However (but), ... |
| ただし | However (but), ... |
Conjunctions
| が | A, but B |
| けれど | A, but B |
| けれども | even though A, B |
| のに | even though A, B |
| から | because of A, B |
| ので | because of A, B |
| なら | if A, B |
| と | if A, (unavoidably) B |