Top 10 Basic Japanese Verbs You Need To Know

When learning a new language, the first thing you should focus on is vocabulary.

Among them, verbs are surely one of the most important parts. Without them, you can’t understand what’s going on! That’s why you should memorize these 10 basic Japanese verbs if you want to learn Japanese!

Things to Remember About Japanese Verbs

In Japanese, verbs are called Doushi 動詞 with the kanji “to move” (動) and “text” (詞). Without the verb, a sentence doesn’t make sense. Therefore, let’s start from the very basics of Japanese verbs to learn Japanese!

First of all, note that for each verb there’s a “gentle form”, ending in -ます masu, and a “dictionary form” ending in -う u. Use the first one when talking in a respectful way, and the second one to be more colloquial. That’s the one you find in the dictionary, also. You can choose the verb form you need based on the situation.

Besides, remember that in Japanese the verb always goes at the end of the sentence. Focus on the pattern Subject + Particle > Object + Particle  > Verb.

If you’re a beginner, check this article to learn about Japanese particles. Just focus on は / が, を, and の. These are the essential particles for a basic sentence.

You can also practice Japanese and English together and learn about Japanese culture by reading the article of our content partner, the Hiragana Times!

Top 10 Basic Japanese Verbs You Need To Know!

Here’s our list of 10 basic and useful verbs to know in Japanese:

Finally, now that you know how to say some basic actions, let’s look at some examples of how to properly use them!

How to Use Basic Verbs: Examples

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