Japanese Verbs: Essential List with Masu Form and Examples

Q: How many verb groups are there in Japanese?

Japanese has three verb groups. Group 1, called godan or u-verbs, is the largest group. It includes verbs whose dictionary form ends in a consonant plus u sound (飲む nomu, 書く kaku, 話す hanasu). Group 2, called ichidan or ru-verbs, includes verbs ending in -iru or -eru (食べる taberu, 見る miru, 起きる okiru). Group 3 contains just two irregular verbs: する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come). Knowing which group a verb belongs to is essential because each group follows different conjugation rules. Watch Out for Tricky Verbs A common pitfall is that some verbs look like Group 2 but are actually Group 1. Examples include 帰る (kaeru, to return) and 走る (hashiru, to run). These must be memorized individually.

Q: What is the masu form in Japanese?

The masu form (ます形, masu-kei) is the polite conjugation of Japanese verbs. It is used in formal and semi-formal speech. It works in nearly every social situation. How to Form Masu For Group 2 verbs, drop the final る and add ます. Example: 食べる becomes 食べます (tabemasu). For Group 1 verbs, change the final u-sound to an i-sound and add ます. Example: 飲む becomes 飲みます (nomimasu). For irregular verbs, する becomes します (shimasu) and 来る becomes 来ます (kimasu). Related Masu-Form Conjugations Negative: ません (masen) Past: ました (mashita) Past negative: ませんでした (masen deshita) The masu form is the first conjugation most textbooks teach because it is appropriate in nearly every social situation.

JapaneseBy FluentFlash Research Team·Updated 2026-04-30

Verbs are the engine of every Japanese sentence. They unlock your ability to express actions, states, and desires in real conversations.

Japanese verbs always come at the end of a sentence. They conjugate for tense, politeness, and mood. Unlike English, they never change for person or number. This actually makes them simpler to learn.

Three Verb Groups

Japanese verbs fall into three groups. Group 1 (godan/u-verbs) is the largest. Group 2 (ichidan/ru-verbs) includes fewer verbs. Group 3 contains only two irregular verbs: する and 来る. Each group follows different conjugation rules.

Master the Masu-Form First

The polite masu-form is the most important form for beginners. It works in nearly every conversation. Once you master masu-form, you can branch into casual forms, te-form, and conditional forms.

Below you will find over 25 essential Japanese verbs organized by frequency and usefulness. Each verb appears in dictionary form, masu-form, and example sentences. Use FluentFlash's spaced-repetition flashcards to drill these verbs until conjugation becomes automatic.

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Most Common Japanese Verbs, Daily Actions

These verbs appear in almost every conversation. They cover basic actions like eating, drinking, going, and seeing.

Memorize Masu-Form First

Start by memorizing the masu-form for everyday use. Each verb below shows both the plain dictionary form and the polite masu-form side by side.

Japanese	Romaji	English	Example	Group
食べる / 食べます	taberu / tabemasu	To eat	朝ごはんを食べます。(I eat breakfast.)	Group 2
飲む / 飲みます	nomu / nomimasu	To drink	水を飲みます。(I drink water.)	Group 1
行く / 行きます	iku / ikimasu	To go	学校に行きます。(I go to school.)	Group 1
来る / 来ます	kuru / kimasu	To come	友達が来ます。(My friend is coming.)	Group 3
見る / 見ます	miru / mimasu	To see, watch	映画を見ます。(I watch a movie.)	Group 2
聞く / 聞きます	kiku / kikimasu	To listen, ask	音楽を聞きます。(I listen to music.)	Group 1
する / します	suru / shimasu	To do	勉強をします。(I study.)	Group 3
話す / 話します	hanasu / hanashimasu	To speak, talk	日本語を話します。(I speak Japanese.)	Group 1

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
食べる / 食べます (たべる)	To eat	taberu / tabemasu	朝ごはんを食べます。(Asagohan wo tabemasu.), I eat breakfast. [Group 2]
飲む / 飲みます (のむ)	To drink	nomu / nomimasu	水を飲みます。(Mizu wo nomimasu.), I drink water. [Group 1]
行く / 行きます (いく)	To go	iku / ikimasu	学校に行きます。(Gakkou ni ikimasu.), I go to school. [Group 1]
来る / 来ます (くる)	To come	kuru / kimasu	友達が来ます。(Tomodachi ga kimasu.), My friend is coming. [Group 3 irregular]
見る / 見ます (みる)	To see / watch	miru / mimasu	映画を見ます。(Eiga wo mimasu.), I watch a movie. [Group 2]
聞く / 聞きます (きく)	To listen / ask	kiku / kikimasu	音楽を聞きます。(Ongaku wo kikimasu.), I listen to music. [Group 1]
する / します	To do	suru / shimasu	勉強をします。(Benkyou wo shimasu.), I study. [Group 3 irregular]
話す / 話します (はなす)	To speak / talk	hanasu / hanashimasu	日本語を話します。(Nihongo wo hanashimasu.), I speak Japanese. [Group 1]

Movement and Existence Verbs

These verbs describe movement, location, and existence. They are essential for describing where you are and what you are doing.

Two Verbs for "To Exist"

Japanese has two verbs for "to exist". いる (iru) describes animate things like people and animals. ある (aru) describes inanimate objects. This distinction is one of the first grammar points beginners encounter.

Japanese	Romaji	English	Example	Group
いる / います	iru / imasu	To exist (animate)	猫がいます。(There is a cat.)	Group 2
ある / あります	aru / arimasu	To exist (inanimate)	本があります。(There is a book.)	Group 1
帰る / 帰ります	kaeru / kaerimasu	To return, go home	家に帰ります。(I go home.)	Group 1
歩く / 歩きます	aruku / arukimasu	To walk	公園を歩きます。(I walk in the park.)	Group 1
走る / 走ります	hashiru / hashirimasu	To run	毎朝走ります。(I run every morning.)	Group 1
乗る / 乗ります	noru / norimasu	To ride, get on	電車に乗ります。(I ride the train.)	Group 1

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
いる / います	To exist / be (animate)	iru / imasu	猫がいます。(Neko ga imasu.), There is a cat. [Group 2]
ある / あります	To exist / be (inanimate)	aru / arimasu	本があります。(Hon ga arimasu.), There is a book. [Group 1]
帰る / 帰ります (かえる)	To return / go home	kaeru / kaerimasu	家に帰ります。(Ie ni kaerimasu.), I go home. [Group 1]
歩く / 歩きます (あるく)	To walk	aruku / arukimasu	公園を歩きます。(Kouen wo arukimasu.), I walk in the park. [Group 1]
走る / 走ります (はしる)	To run	hashiru / hashirimasu	毎朝走ります。(Maiasa hashirimasu.), I run every morning. [Group 1]
乗る / 乗ります (のる)	To ride / get on	noru / norimasu	電車に乗ります。(Densha ni norimasu.), I ride the train. [Group 1]

Communication and Mental Action Verbs

These verbs cover thinking, understanding, knowing, and communicating. They are essential for expressing opinions, asking questions, and navigating daily interactions in Japanese.

Express Thoughts and Understanding

Use these verbs to share what you think, know, and understand. They form the foundation of meaningful conversation.

Japanese	Romaji	English	Example	Group
読む / 読みます	yomu / yomimasu	To read	新聞を読みます。(I read the newspaper.)	Group 1
書く / 書きます	kaku / kakimasu	To write	手紙を書きます。(I write a letter.)	Group 1
分かる / 分かります	wakaru / wakarimasu	To understand	日本語が分かります。(I understand Japanese.)	Group 1
知る / 知っています	shiru / shitte imasu	To know	この歌を知っていますか。(Do you know this song?)	Group 1
思う / 思います	omou / omoimasu	To think	いい考えだと思います。(I think it's a good idea.)	Group 1
教える / 教えます	oshieru / oshiemasu	To teach, tell	英語を教えます。(I teach English.)	Group 2

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
読む / 読みます (よむ)	To read	yomu / yomimasu	新聞を読みます。(Shinbun wo yomimasu.), I read the newspaper. [Group 1]
書く / 書きます (かく)	To write	kaku / kakimasu	手紙を書きます。(Tegami wo kakimasu.), I write a letter. [Group 1]
分かる / 分かります (わかる)	To understand	wakaru / wakarimasu	日本語が分かります。(Nihongo ga wakarimasu.), I understand Japanese. [Group 1]
知る / 知っています (しる)	To know	shiru / shitte imasu	この歌を知っていますか？(Kono uta wo shitte imasu ka?), Do you know this song? [Group 1]
思う / 思います (おもう)	To think	omou / omoimasu	いい考えだと思います。(Ii kangae da to omoimasu.), I think it's a good idea. [Group 1]
教える / 教えます (おしえる)	To teach / tell	oshieru / oshiemasu	英語を教えます。(Eigo wo oshiemasu.), I teach English. [Group 2]

Daily Life and Utility Verbs

These verbs round out your essential toolkit. They cover buying, making, sleeping, working, and other everyday actions. With these verbs plus the ones above, you can describe most of your daily routine in Japanese.

Build Your Daily Vocabulary

These practical verbs let you talk about routines, shopping, cooking, and work activities.

Japanese	Romaji	English	Example	Group
買う / 買います	kau / kaimasu	To buy	お土産を買います。(I buy souvenirs.)	Group 1
作る / 作ります	tsukuru / tsukurimasu	To make, create	料理を作ります。(I make food.)	Group 1
寝る / 寝ます	neru / nemasu	To sleep, go to bed	11時に寝ます。(I go to bed at 11.)	Group 2
起きる / 起きます	okiru / okimasu	To wake up, get up	毎朝6時に起きます。(I wake up at 6 every morning.)	Group 2
働く / 働きます	hataraku / hatarakimasu	To work	東京で働きます。(I work in Tokyo.)	Group 1
使う / 使います	tsukau / tsukaimasu	To use	パソコンを使います。(I use a computer.)	Group 1
待つ / 待ちます	matsu / machimasu	To wait	ここで待ちます。(I will wait here.)	Group 1

Term	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
買う / 買います (かう)	To buy	kau / kaimasu	お土産を買います。(Omiyage wo kaimasu.), I buy souvenirs. [Group 1]
作る / 作ります (つくる)	To make / create	tsukuru / tsukurimasu	料理を作ります。(Ryouri wo tsukurimasu.), I make food. [Group 1]
寝る / 寝ます (ねる)	To sleep / go to bed	neru / nemasu	11時に寝ます。(Juuichi-ji ni nemasu.), I go to bed at 11. [Group 2]
起きる / 起きます (おきる)	To wake up / get up	okiru / okimasu	毎朝6時に起きます。(Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu.), I wake up at 6 every morning. [Group 2]
働く / 働きます (はたらく)	To work	hataraku / hatarakimasu	東京で働きます。(Toukyou de hatarakimasu.), I work in Tokyo. [Group 1]
使う / 使います (つかう)	To use	tsukau / tsukaimasu	パソコンを使います。(Pasokon wo tsukaimasu.), I use a computer. [Group 1]
待つ / 待ちます (まつ)	To wait	matsu / machimasu	ここで待ちます。(Koko de machimasu.), I will wait here. [Group 1]

How to Study Japanese Effectively

Mastering Japanese requires the right study approach, not just more hours. Research in cognitive science shows three techniques produce the best learning outcomes.

Three Science-Backed Learning Methods

Active recall means testing yourself rather than re-reading. Spaced repetition reviews material at scientifically-optimized intervals. Interleaving mixes related topics rather than studying one in isolation.

FluentFlash is built around all three. When you study Japanese verbs with our FSRS algorithm, every term gets scheduled for review at exactly the moment you are about to forget it. This maximizes retention while minimizing study time.

Why Passive Review Fails

The most common mistake students make is relying on passive review methods. Re-reading notes, highlighting textbook passages, or watching lecture videos feels productive. However, studies show these methods produce only 10 to 20 percent retention compared to active recall.

Flashcards force your brain to retrieve information. This strengthens memory pathways far more than recognition alone. Pair this with spaced repetition scheduling, and you can learn in 20 minutes a day what would take hours of passive review.

A Practical 2-3 Week Study Plan

Create 15 to 25 flashcards covering the highest-priority verbs
Review them daily for the first week using FSRS scheduling
As cards become easier, intervals automatically expand from minutes to days to weeks
Stay focused on material at the edge of your knowledge
After 2 to 3 weeks of consistent practice, Japanese verbs become automatic rather than effortful to recall

1
Generate flashcards using FluentFlash AI or create them manually from your notes
2
Study 15-20 new cards per day, plus scheduled reviews
3
Use multiple study modes (flip, multiple choice, written) to strengthen recall
4
Track your progress and identify weak topics for focused review
5
Review consistently, daily practice beats marathon sessions

Why Flashcards Work Better Than Other Study Methods for Japanese

Flashcards are one of the most research-backed study tools for any subject, including Japanese. The reason comes down to how memory actually works.

How Memory Works: Short-Term to Long-Term

When you read a textbook passage, your brain stores that information in short-term memory. Without retrieval practice, it fades within hours. Flashcards force retrieval, which is the mechanism that transfers information from short-term to long-term memory.

The testing effect is documented in hundreds of peer-reviewed studies. Students who study with flashcards consistently outperform those who re-read by 30 to 60 percent on delayed tests. This is not because flashcards contain more information. It is because retrieval strengthens neural pathways in a way that passive exposure cannot.

Every Correct Recall Strengthens Your Memory

Every time you successfully recall a Japanese concept from a flashcard, you make that concept easier to recall next time. This is the power of active retrieval practice.

FluentFlash amplifies this effect with the FSRS algorithm, a modern spaced repetition system. It schedules reviews at mathematically-optimal intervals based on your actual performance. Cards you find easy get pushed further into the future. Cards you struggle with come back sooner.

Over time, this builds remarkable retention with minimal time investment. Students using FSRS-based systems typically retain 85 to 95 percent of material after 30 days. This compares to roughly 20 percent retention from passive review alone.

Study These Words with Flashcards

Turn this vocabulary list into smart flashcards. AI-powered spaced repetition helps you remember every word.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many verb groups are there in Japanese?

Japanese has three verb groups. Group 1, called godan or u-verbs, is the largest group. It includes verbs whose dictionary form ends in a consonant plus u sound (飲む nomu, 書く kaku, 話す hanasu).

Group 2, called ichidan or ru-verbs, includes verbs ending in -iru or -eru (食べる taberu, 見る miru, 起きる okiru).

Group 3 contains just two irregular verbs: する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come). Knowing which group a verb belongs to is essential because each group follows different conjugation rules.

Watch Out for Tricky Verbs

A common pitfall is that some verbs look like Group 2 but are actually Group 1. Examples include 帰る (kaeru, to return) and 走る (hashiru, to run). These must be memorized individually.

What is the masu form in Japanese?

The masu form (ます形, masu-kei) is the polite conjugation of Japanese verbs. It is used in formal and semi-formal speech. It works in nearly every social situation.

How to Form Masu

For Group 2 verbs, drop the final る and add ます. Example: 食べる becomes 食べます (tabemasu).

For Group 1 verbs, change the final u-sound to an i-sound and add ます. Example: 飲む becomes 飲みます (nomimasu).

For irregular verbs, する becomes します (shimasu) and 来る becomes 来ます (kimasu).

Related Masu-Form Conjugations

Negative: ません (masen)
Past: ました (mashita)
Past negative: ませんでした (masen deshita)

The masu form is the first conjugation most textbooks teach because it is appropriate in nearly every social situation.

What are the most important Japanese verbs for beginners?

The most essential Japanese verbs for beginners cover daily actions and basic communication. Start with these 14 core verbs:

する (suru, to do)
行く (iku, to go)
来る (kuru, to come)
食べる (taberu, to eat)
飲む (nomu, to drink)
見る (miru, to see)
聞く (kiku, to listen)
話す (hanasu, to speak)
読む (yomu, to read)
書く (kaku, to write)
分かる (wakaru, to understand)
いる (iru, to exist, animate)
ある (aru, to exist, inanimate)
買う (kau, to buy)

These 14 verbs alone let you describe most of your daily routine. You can ask basic questions and understand simple conversations. Master their masu-forms first, then learn the te-form for connecting actions.

How do Japanese verbs differ from English verbs?

Japanese verbs differ from English verbs in several fundamental ways.

Word Order Difference

Japanese verbs always go at the end of the sentence. "I eat sushi" becomes 私は寿司を食べます (watashi wa sushi wo tabemasu). This literally translates to "I sushi eat."

No Person or Number Changes

Japanese verbs do not conjugate for person or number. The same form works for "I eat," "you eat," and "they eat."

Built-In Politeness System

Every Japanese verb has a plain form (食べる taberu) and a polite form (食べます tabemasu). Choosing the wrong level can be socially awkward.

More Grammar Built Into Verbs

Japanese verbs conjugate for many moods that English handles with separate words. These include potential (can do), causative (make someone do), and passive (is done).

Highly Regular with Few Exceptions

Despite these differences, Japanese verb conjugation is highly regular with very few exceptions. Once you learn the patterns, you can apply them consistently.