Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Verb Conjugation Charts

When you identify the patterns, conjugating Japanese verbs becomes a straightforward task. Unlike English, Japanese has only a handful of irregular verbs that deviate from these patterns. While it may seem challenging at first and will require some time and practice, this article will serve as a valuable resource to revisit whenever you need guidance.

Don’t worry if you don’t grasp everything after reading this article—Japanese can be complex! Be sure to bookmark it for future reference when you find yourself puzzled by a conjugation. While the tables and explanations may appear daunting initially, remember that the more you delve into the language, the clearer it will become. Keep practicing, and you’ll see progress!

The three kinds of Japanese verbs

In Japanese, verbs fall into three categories: Godan verbs, Ichidan verbs, and irregular verbs. Before diving into the intricacies of their conjugations, it’s beneficial to refresh your knowledge of hiragana. This foundational skill will greatly enhance your understanding of the language!

This hiragana chart, provided by NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, is an invaluable tool. Keeping it handy as you read this article will enhance your understanding of conjugation patterns significantly.

Godan verbs (五段動詞 – godan dōshi)

Godan (五段) translates to “five levels,” a term that refers to a specific category of Japanese verbs. These verbs are named for their unique conjugation pattern, where the final syllable shifts among five vowel sounds found in the hiragana chart: あ (a), い (i), う (u), え (e), and お (o). Another widely used term for these verbs is “う-verbs” (u-verbs), reflecting their consistent ending on the う line of the hiragana chart.

Let’s look at an example to help you understand how this conjugation works.

The verb 聞く (kiku), meaning “to listen,” is classified as an agodan verb and is presented in its plain or dictionary form. Since the final syllable is く (ku), its conjugations will follow the hiragana chart along the line for か (ka). Below are the essential conjugations of this verb:

Notice that in each of these conjugations, the final syllable corresponds to a character from the か line in the hiragana chart. While there are a few exceptions that we’ll discuss shortly, the majority of godan verbs adhere to this pattern.

It may seem complicated at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward! Just locate the hiragana line that matches the last syllable of a verb, and you’ll be able to determine its conjugations with ease.

Godan verb conjugations

Japanese boasts over five distinct verb conjugations. However, with a few exceptions, all godan verbs adhere to a consistent pattern: simply modify the vowel sound of the final syllable and attach the correct ending.

When conjugating the agodan verb, the key lies in the final syllable, as it determines the appropriate conjugation. There are eight distinct verb endings to consider: う (u), く (ku), ぐ (gu), す (su), つ (tsu), ぶ (bu), む (mu), and る (ru). Understanding these endings is essential for mastering verb conjugation.

Many verb endings come with exceptions, but fortunately, even those exceptions are easy to recall. One notable exception to this pattern is the verb ending “す,” which stands out as the only one without any exceptions. Let’s explore it further!

All verbs that end with “す” follow the さ row in the hiragana chart for their conjugation. While there are over five different forms for these verbs, they consistently utilize one of the five vowel sounds. Let’s take a look at the conjugations for the verb “話す” (hanasu), which means “to speak.”

Conjugation tables can seem overwhelming at first glance, but there’s no need to memorize them all at once. Instead, consider bookmarking this page to serve as a handy reference while you explore new verbs. This way, you’ll have a valuable resource at your fingertips!

Godan exceptions

Now, let’s explore the exceptions! While most godan verbs adhere to the previously mentioned pattern, there are some notable variations. Don’t worry if you can’t memorize these immediately; it will take some time to grasp them fully. Feel free to bookmark this article for easy reference whenever you need a refresher!

Adding a w-sound

Verbs that end with the vowel う (u) stand out as the only group featuring a final syllable composed entirely of vowels. When you apply the conjugation pattern we discussed, these verbs align with the first row of the hiragana chart, corresponding to the vowel sounds あ, い, う, え, お (a, i, u, e, o).

Instead of using あ (a) for conjugations, you’ll need to incorporate a w-sound and use わ (wa) instead. For instance, let’s take the verb “買う” (kau), which means “to buy.”

Adding an n-sound and a d-sound

Now, let’s explore the conjugation rules for verbs ending in ぶ (bu) and む (mu). In these cases, you’ll add an ん (n) sound and replace the usual t-sound with a d-sound in three specific scenarios.

Here are the conjugations for the verbs “遊ぶ” (asobu – to play) and “飲む” (nomu – to drink). It’s interesting to note that these conjugation patterns apply universally to all verbs ending in ぶ and む.

Double consonants

The small っ (tsu) creates a double consonant sound that is essential in conjugating verbs that end with う (u), つ (tsu), and る (ru). For example, take the verbs “買う” (kau – to buy), “立つ” (tatsu – to stand), and “怒る” (okoru – to get angry). Understanding this nuance will enhance your grasp of Japanese verb conjugation.

Leaving out the consonant and adding a d-sound

When conjugating verbs that end in く (ku) and ぐ (gu), the consonant is dropped, focusing solely on the verb sound. Additionally, for ぐ-ending verbs, a d-sound replaces the typical t-sound found in other conjugations.

ある (aru – to exist)

Although this godan verb ends with る (ru), it features a distinctive pattern: in its negative forms, the first character shifts from あ (a) to な (na). Additionally, this verb has a more limited range of conjugations and forms.

Ichidan verbs (一段動詞 – ichidan dōshi)

Allichidan verbs, commonly referred to as る-verbs, are characterized by their distinctive ending in the character る (ru). Conjugating these verbs is significantly simpler than their godan counterparts. To conjugate an allichidan verb, you only need to modify the る ending, while the root of the verb remains unchanged.

Ichidan verbs are incredibly straightforward! By examining the conjugation of just one verb, you can grasp how all of them work. Notice the root, highlighted in bold, which remains consistent across conjugations, making it easy to master this verb category.

Irregular verbs (変格動詞 – henkaku dōshi)

In Japanese, two key irregular verbs stand out: する (suru), meaning “to do,” and 来る (kuru), which translates to “to come.” What makes these verbs particularly interesting is that both their initial and final forms undergo changes, setting them apart from regular verbs.

Here’s how you conjugate these two verbs:

Practice conjugating Japanese verbs

These charts are your go-to resource for mastering Japanese verb conjugations. Unlike many other languages, Japanese verbs follow a consistent pattern, making the process simpler. However, don’t be fooled—perfecting these conjugations requires time and practice. Remember, you don’t have to become an expert overnight! Feel free to bookmark this article for easy reference whenever you need a refresher.

With a LingualNeeds online Japanese tutor, you can take Japanese lessons online and practice conjugating verbs in real-life sentences.