When you learn Japanese, you'll quickly realize the importance of formality and politeness. There are usually two different ways to say something—informal or polite (formal). Essentially, the words and phrases in the Japanese language change based on who you're talking to and what the situation is. However, that doesn't mean all Japanese words are strict and serious. Like any other language, Japanese slang words are common among native speakers—especially younger ones! So, to master some of the must-know Japanese slang words and help you sound more like a native, we've put together the following guide for you to save.

<h2>What's the Point of Learning Japanese Slang?</h2>

Japanese slang isn't usually in the dictionary or your average Japanese grammar book, but learning it can be a fun way to improve your fluency in real-world situations. It can help you connect with locals of your age or in social situations and immerse yourself in the world of Japanese culture without offending anyone. Plus, [learning new Japanese words](https://tandem.net/blog/learning-japanese-beginners) will add a layer of confidence and a stronger understanding of the language. Just make sure you take a minute to read the room before trying to impress people by repeating popular Japanese slang you read online!

<h3>An Important Distinction Between Slang and Formal Japanese</h3>

The Japanese language is rooted in formality and politeness, so slang is not always appropriate. Whenever you meet someone for the first time, it's better to use the polite form and make adjustments as you develop a relationship. You should also use polite speech when you're in a professional setting, speak with someone who has more authority than you, or speak with someone older than you. In Japanese culture, politeness is important, so it's always better to be safe than sorry. Still, several Japanese phrases and words are NSFW, and if you want to learn how to use them appropriately, download [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) and match with a native speaker today.

<h2>Common Japanese Slang Used Across the Country</h2>

Native speakers use slang for [greetings in Japanese](https://tandem.net/blog/greetings-in-japanese), strong emotions, descriptions, and general abbreviations. However, the direct translation from Japanese to English isn't always clear. Instead, the slang is based more on context. Luckily, since slang is common enough to appear in reality shows, dramas, and even anime, you can practice listening to it naturally and pick it up quickly. So, to help you sound like a local, here are some of the most common slang terms used in Japanese culture.

<h3>やばい (yabai)</h3>

This is probably the most commonly used Japanese slang word in the language. It has several different meanings, ranging from "good," "awesome," and "amazing" to "bad," "crappy," "terrible," and even "dangerous." Essentially, it can be used to describe both good and bad things.

<h3>半端ない (hanpa nai)</h3>

When you want to stick to the positive side of things, try this slang word. It means"wild" or "awesome." 

<h3>オッス！(ossu!)</h3>

In English slang among certain crowds, you might hear someone say, "What's up, dude?" or "Yo!" This is the Japanese equivalent of this casual greeting.

<h3>キモい (kimoi)</h3>

This is a short-hand way of saying 気持ち悪い (kimochi warui), which you would say when something (or someone) gives you a bad feeling, repulses you, or just feels off. キモい is more reserved for repulsion. It's often used to mean "gross" or "disgusting." You may also hear it as a stand-alone word, like when someone is saying, "Ew!"

<h3>ウザい (uzai)</h3>

Japanese people use this if they want to say that someone is "annoyingly noisy" or "loud." It's often used to talk about frustration with a situation or person, but in some situations it's used to refer to someone as being "gloomy."

<h3>ムカつく (mukatsuku)</h3>

Alternatively, you can use this slang word. It's the Japanese equivalent of "irritating" or "pissed off." You can also use it as a complaint when something annoys you.

<h3>ずるい (zurui)</h3>

This is commonly used when you want to say that something is "unfair" or someone is being "sneaky." However, it may be used in a way that includes a bit of admiration for their slyness. It can also be used to tell someone, "You suck!" 

<h3>イケメン (ikemen)</h3>

Want to know how to call a man the equivalent of "tall, dark, and handsome?" This is the word for you. It's used to talk about good-looking boys or men.

<h3>微妙 (bimyō)</h3>

This is used to describe something "meh" or "questionable." For example, if you go to see a new movie and you neither love it nor hate it, this is the perfect word to describe its mediocrity.

<h3>ダサい (dasai)</h3>

This is similar to the English word "uncool." It's like a younger person telling their parents they're being uncool or "cringe."

<h3>おしゃれ (oshare)</h3>

To call someone fashionable, you can use this slang. It can also be used to say something is trendy.

<h3>ばか (baka)</h3>

If you want to call someone an "idiot" or "fool," this is the perfect Japanese swear word or insult to use. But be careful; it's not to be used lightly. This is used in the Western region of Japan, while あほ (aho) means the same and is used in the East.

<h3>わりーね (warii ne)</h3>

After a small altercation or miscommunication with a friend, you might want to casually apologize without getting too deep. If so, you can use this slang for "my bad."

<h3>奴 (yatsu)</h3>

This is a rude way of referring to someone and is considered an insult in standard Japanese. Never use it with elders, superiors, or strangers!

<h3>アマ (ama)</h3>

Another slang word that shouldn't be thrown around often is アマ, which means "bitch" and is usually reserved for women. It's considered a Japanese swear word and alsoo quite derogatory.

<h3>おつ (otsu)</h3>

When you want to thank someone for their hard work or tell them they did a good job, this is the word for you. It can also be written in kanji as 乙. There are several  [ways to say thank you in Japanese](https://tandem.net/blog/thank-you-in-japanese), but this is a good option for informal settings.

<h2>New Japanese Slang Words Used Today</h2>

Like many things in life, the Japanese slang words and phrases used in everyday language change with time. With the rise of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, some obscure Japanese internet slang has emerged. It's more commonly used among the Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids, but adding new Japanese words to your vocabulary is always fun. So, if you want to fit in with the younger crowd, brush up on this new Japanese slang.

- __羽ばたいている__ (habataiteru) — Cool
- __好ハオ__ (sukihao) — Like
- __かわちぃ__ (kawachii) — cute
- __ちょえ__ (choe) — wait!
- __てぇてぇ__ (tētē) — valuable or precious

<h2>Some Japanese Slang That's Used Online</h2>

Some words in Japanese have been shortened to make them easier to use online, which is how the rise of Japanese internet slang came to be. Some of the most common shortcuts used to express yourself online include the following:

<h3>ググる (guguru)</h3>

How many times have you asked a question only to be told to "Google it?" Well, in Japanese, there's slang for that. To shorten it and use it online in a bit of a sassy way, you can type GGRKS.

<h3>リア充 (riajuu)</h3>

This one's interesting because it's mainly used amongst gamers or people who are very introverted and prefer depending on their online persona. It's used to describe someone who would rather be outside, enjoying life in the "real world" than the digital world.

<h3>W (or WW) (or WWWW)</h3>

This is used in Japan's internet culture as a way to say "lol." You can type as many "Ws" as you want, with more communicating a bigger response, similar to the difference between lol and lmao or lmfao.

<h3>もっさり (mossari)</h3>

This Japanese onomatopoeia describes something loading or working slowly online, like your internet connection or laptop.

<h3>WKTK</h3>

This is another onomatopoeia that's short-hand for wakuwaku tekateka, which means very excited. 

<h3>おk (ok)</h3>

This is a Japanese slang word that was developed to be used as a keyboard shortcut for "okay." It's kind of because the lettering looks like "ok." Other similar shortcuts are んp (np), which means "no problem," and うp (up), which is used to say "upload."

<h2>Some Fun Japanese Slang Phrases and Idioms</h2>

People also use a few different Japanese slang expressions or idioms in everyday language. Some of these include the following:

- __猫の手も借りたい__ (Neko no te mo karitai) — So busy that even a cat's help would be welcome
- __馬の耳に念仏__ (Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu) — Preaching to the deaf (Like talking to a brick wall)
- __頭が切れる__ (Atama ga kireru) — Sharp-headed (Being very clever)
- __案ずるより産むが易し__ (Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi) — Giving birth is easier than worrying about it (Fear is greater than the danger)
- __石の上にも三年__ (Ishi no ue ni mo sannen) — Three years on a stone (Perseverance prevails)
- __海老で鯛を釣る__ (Ebi de tai wo tsuru) — To catch a sea bream with a shrimp (Getting a big return for a small investment)
- __一期一会__ (Ichigo ichie) — Once-in-a-lifetime meeting (Treasure every encounter)
- __見ぬが花__ (Minu ga hana) — Not seeing is a flower (Reality can't compete with imagination)
- __七転び八起き__ (Nanakorobi yaoki) — Fall seven times, get up eight (Persistence)
- __猿も木から落ちる__ (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) — Even monkeys fall from trees (Everyone makes mistakes)
- __十人十色__ (Juunin toiro) — Ten people, ten colors (To each their own)
- __花より団子__ (Hana yori dango) — Dumplings over flowers (Practicality over aesthetics)
- __蛙の子は蛙__ (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) — A frog's child is a frog (Like father, like son)
- __知らぬが仏 __(Shiranu ga hotoke) — Not knowing is Buddha (Ignorance is bliss)
- __二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず__ (Nito wo ou mono wa itto wo mo ezu) — One who chases after two hares won't catch even one (Chase two rabbits, catch none)

<h2>How to Practice Using Japanese Slang Without the Risk</h2>

Using Japanese slang phrases and words in the wrong setting can create an uncomfortable situation, so how can you practice without the fear of offending someone? The best way is to make Japanese friends and develop a relationship that induces informality. But, if you're not living in Japan, doing so might be kind of difficult. Although there are always ways to make friends with native speakers in person, Tandem allows you to find like-minded individuals with similar language goals so you can share knowledge and engage in real-world conversations. 

Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you deepen your understanding and improve your Japanese slang while learning when and how to use it in real conversations. You can also practice [Japanese verb conjugation](https://tandem.net/blog/conjugate-verbs-japanese) and using [Japanese adjectives](https://tandem.net/blog/japanese-adjectives) to create more colorful conversations. The difference is that Tandem incorporates intuitive messaging features and language tools to help individuals practice their target languages together. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) today!

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Ready to use some Japanese words and phrases you won't find in textbooks? Learn Japanese slang to help you sound like a native here.

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Japanese Slang

Fun Japanese Slang Words to Know

Japanese slang word, japanese slang expressions

Japanese slang

Japanese slang isn't usually in the dictionary or your average Japanese grammar book, but learning it can be a fun way to improve your fluency in real-world situations.

What's the Point of Learning Japanese Slang?

So you want to learn Japanese but aren't quite sure where to start. It's one of the more difficult languages for native English speakers, with three writing systems, tons of Japanese vocabulary, and pronunciation that might feel a bit unnatural at first. However, learning a new language requires practice, and Japanese will require dedication, commitment, and a lot of hard work. Luckily, learning Japanese for beginners doesn't have to make you want to scream when you take it step-by-step. 

To help you get the most out of your time, we've put together a detailed guide to learning Japanese for beginners and what to do to continue improving fluency.

<h2>How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese?</h2>

Experts believe that it can take anywhere between 400 and 600 hours to reach basic Japanese fluency. To reach the first milestone (beginner level), it will likely take about four to six months of consistent studying. This is specifically for individuals who are starting from scratch and have no prior Japanese lessons or introductions. To reach an advanced level of Japanese, it will probably take at least three years of consistent studying. 

<h2>How to Learn Japanese for Beginners</h2>

Japanese courses aren't for everyone, so if you want to get started on your path toward fluency one of the best ways is to figure out what works for you. Some people like Japanese textbooks, while others prefer flashcards or podcasts. Regardless of your current Japanese skills, here are 11 tips for learning Japanese for beginners.

<h3>1. Start Learning Japanese with the Alphabet</h3>

Japanese uses three writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. The kana alphabet represents sounds used in the spoken language, similar to letters in the English alphabet. Hiragana and katakana are both part of the kana alphabet. Kanji, on the other hand, takes some inspiration from the Chinese alphabet. Each character in kanji is used to stand for an entire concept or idea.

When just you start to learn the three Japanese writing systems, begin with Hiragana and Katakana, which are simpler and consist of basic syllabaries.

__Hiragana and Katakana__

Hiragana contains 46 characters and is used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements. It’s essential for beginners to learn because it forms the foundation of Japanese writing.

Katakana also has 46 characters and is primarily used for foreign words, names, and onomatopoeia. However, it's equally important as Hiragana for reading and writing.

You can find a more thorough breakdown of the [Japanese alphabet here](https://tandem.net/blog/japanese-alpabhet). To help you study, try using flashcards, writing each character repeatedly, or making some mnemonic devices. And remember, consistency is key. It can be overwhelming at first but pretty sooon you'll be reciting the alphabet in your sleep.

__Kanji__

Kanji characters are logographic and more complex. They represent whole words or concepts and have different readings depending on context. While Hiragana and Katakana are essential for beginners, introducing basic Kanji early can be beneficial and rewarding! Plus, it's still important to learn kanji at some point, so you might as well get started early.

<h3>2. Master Japanese Pronunciation</h3>

Japanese is phonetic, meaning words are pronounced exactly as they are written. This makes pronunciation relatively straightforward compared to other languages. To help you put together sounds for various words and phrases, start by learning the sounds of the vowels and consonants.

There are five vowels in Japanese, and they're the same as in English: a, i, u, e, o. Each has a consistent pronunciation:

- A as in "father"
- I as in "machine"
- U as in "flute"
- E as in "bed"
- O as in "more"

Most consonants are similar to English but may have slight variations. In Japanese, each consonant is paired up with a vowel to form a different "letter" in the alphabet. Our previous post on the Japanese alphabet will take you on a more in-depth learning journey to help you better understand sounds.

<h3>3. Learn Japanese Grammar</h3>

Japanese grammar is very different from English, and it has only two tenses: past and non-past (present and future). There are also polite and plain versions of the language, which will need to be used based on who you're talking to.

In addition to the writing system, Japanese learning requires you to understand some common particles and what they mean. Particles are small words that indicate the grammatical function of the previous word. They are crucial for constructing sentences correctly. Some of the most common ones include:

- __は (wa)__: Subject (general)
- __が (ga)__: Subject (questions and emphasis)
- __か (ka)__: Used to indicate a question
- __を (wo)__: Direct object
- __に (ni)__: Indicates direction or time
- __へ (e)__: Indicates direction or destination
- __で (de)__: Indicates the location of an action
- __の (no)__: Indicates possession
- __も (mo)__: Means "also" or "too"
- __よ (yo)__: Used to give emphasis or assurance
- __ね (ne)__: Used at the end of sentences for confirmation or agreement
- __から (kara)__: Indicates the reason or cause, similar to "because"

You'll also want to learn [Japanese adjectives](https://tandem.net/blog/japanese-adjectives), [Japanese noun cases](https://tandem.net/blog/japanese-noun-cases), and how to [conjugate verbs in Japanese](https://tandem.net/blog/conjugate-verbs-japanese).

<h3>4. Learn Some Basic Japanese Words</h3>

Next, start growing your vocabulary by learning some common words. Some of the best Japanese words to start with include: 

- こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello
- さようなら (sayounara) - Goodbye
- お願いします (onegaishimasu) - Please
- ありがとう (arigatou) - Thank you
- はい (hai) - Yes
- いいえ (iie) - No
- 何 (nani) - What
- 誰 (dare) - Who
- どこ (doko) - Where
- いつ (itsu) - When
- どうして (doushite) - Why
- どうやって (douyatte) - How
- 本 (hon) - Book
- ペン (pen) - Pen
- ノート (nooto) - Notebook
- 机 (tsukue) - Desk
- 椅子 (isu) - Chair
- 電話 (denwa) - Phone
- 車 (kuruma) - Car
- 自転車 (jitensha) - Bicycle
- 家 (ie) - House
- 鍵 (kagi) - Key
- 大きい (ookii) - Big
- 小さい (chiisai) - Small
- 新しい (atarashii) - New
- 古い (furui) - Old
- いい (ii) - Good
- 悪い (warui) - Bad
- 高い (takai) - Expensive / Tall
- 安い (yasui) - Cheap
- 面白い (omoshiroi) - Interesting / Fun
- 難しい (muzukashii) - Difficult

Next, add in some Japanese verbs!

- 行く (iku) - To go
- 来る (kuru) - To come
- 見る (miru) - To see
- 聞く (kiku) - To listen / hear
- 食べる (taberu) - To eat
- 飲む (nomu) - To drink
- 話す (hanasu) - To speak
- 読む (yomu) - To read
- 書く (kaku) - To write
- 買う (kau) - To buy

Japanese numbers are also a great way to learn as a beginner! Start with 1 to 10 and grow from there. The following are [Japanese numbers](https://tandem.net/blog/japanese-numbers) in kanji.

- __一 (ichi)__ - One
- __二 (ni)__ - Two
- __三 (san)__ - Three
- __四 (shi/yon)__ - Four
- __五 (go)__ - Five
- __六 (roku)__ - Six
- __七 (shichi/nana)__ - Seven
- __八 (hachi)__ - Eight
- __九 (kyuu)__ - Nine
- __十 (juu)__ - Ten

<h3>5. Memorize Essential Japanese Phrases</h3>

When learning a language, mastering some of the most common phrases can also help you get around.

- おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) - Good morning
- こんばんは (konbanwa) - Good evening
- おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai) - Good night
- すみません (sumimasen) - Excuse me / I'm sorry
- わかりません (wakarimasen) - I don't understand
- わかります (wakarimasu) - I understand
- はじめまして (hajimemashite) - Nice to meet you
- 私の名前は (name) です (Watashi no namae wa (name) desu) - My name is (name)
- お元気ですか？ (Ogenki desu ka?) - How are you?
- どこですか？ (Doko desu ka?) - Where is it?
- これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?) - What is this?
- ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) - Thank you very much
- どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite) - You're welcome
- すみません (Sumimasen) - Excuse me / I'm sorry
- ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai) - I’m sorry

<h3>6. Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture</h3>

Understanding the cultural context enhances language learning and makes it more meaningful, so try to do what you can. Learn all about Japanese customs and social etiquette, including bows, business card traditions, and the importance of removing shoes. If you have Japanese friends, ask them questions or see if you can join them in celebrations and traditions. If you don't know anyone who speaks Japanese as their native language, download [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) and find a new friend today.

<h3>7. Listen to Simple Japanese Podcasts</h3>

Podcasts are another excellent way to improve listening skills and expose yourself to natural speech when learning Japanese as a beginner. Some great options for beginners are:

- JapanesePod101
- Slow Japanese
- Tofugu
- Learn Japanese Pod

<h3>8. Read Japanese Books or Manga</h3>

Reading Japanese books and manga can also be a great way for beginners to learn the language. Manga, with its vivid illustrations and engaging storylines, provides visual context that helps learners understand and remember new vocabulary and expressions. The dialogue in manga often reflects everyday spoken Japanese, offering practical examples of how the language is used in real-life situations. 

Japanese books, especially those written for children or language learners, use simple sentences and basic vocabulary, making them accessible to beginners. They often come with furigana, small hiragana characters above the kanji, which aids in reading and pronunciation. 

<h3>9. Watch Japanese Anime</h3>

For more visual learners, Japanese anime is a fun way to immerse yourself in the language. Anime has diverse genres and relatable characters, providing a rich source of real-life conversational Japanese. The spoken language in anime often includes various dialects, slang, and casual speech, offering learners a broad perspective on how Japanese is used in different contexts. Plus, subtitles can provide immediate translation, allowing you to connect spoken Japanese with your native language.

<h3>10. Speak Japanese Daily</h3>

Speaking Japanese daily is another essential tip for beginners learning Japanese. Practice not only improves fluency but also builds confidence in using Japanese in real-life situations. Regular conversation helps reinforce grammar rules, sentence structure, and vocabulary learned through textbooks or other study methods. Even if you don't have someone to talk to, practicing your pronunciation will go a long way.

<h3>11. Connect with a Native Japanese Speaker</h3>

Finally, connecting with a native Japanese speaker can be invaluable for learning the language. Interacting with a native speaker provides firsthand exposure to authentic pronunciation, intonation, and natural conversational patterns that textbooks and language learning apps may not fully capture. It allows you to ask questions, get help with pronunciation, and grow your confidence while studying Japanese.

Through this cultural exchange, learners gain a deeper insight into the nuances of Japanese language and culture, making their language learning journey not just educational but also enriching and rewarding.

So, how can you connect with a native Japanese speaker if you're not living in the country? Luckily, there’s an app for that! Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you improve your Japanese while learning how and when to use new words in everyday life. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) today!

Start your language journey with our detailed guide to learning Japanese for beginners. Get tips for Japanese learning and discover common Japanese words.

learning japanese for beginners

A Detailed Guide to Learning Japanese for Beginners

learn japanese language for beginners, japanese for beginners


how to learn japanese for beginners

Experts believe that it can take anywhere between 400 and 600 hours to reach basic Japanese fluency.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese?

1. Start Learning Japanese with the Alphabet,2. Master Japanese Pronunciation, 3. Learn Japanese Grammar, 4. Learn Some Basic Japanese Words, 5. Memorize Essential Japanese Phrases, 6. Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture, 7. Listen to Simple Japanese Podcasts, 8. Read Japanese Books or Manga, 9. Watch Japanese Anime, 10. Speak Japanese Daily, 11. Connect with a Native Japanese Speaker

How to Learn Japanese for Beginners

In the rich tapestry of Japanese culture, expressing gratitude is a delicate art intertwined with social nuances, relationships, and situational context. In fact, understanding how to say thank you in Japanese is not only a matter of language; it’s an exploration of cultural norms and values. From casual interactions with friends to formal business settings, mastering the art of saying thank you in Japanese is essential for anyone who wishes to embrace Japanese culture and etiquette while improving fluency. So, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do you say thank you in Japanese?” and can’t come up with anything other than the infamous “Arigato,” you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll explore the diverse ways of saying thanks in Japanese and teach you 13 options to use in a variety of social settings.

<h2>How to Say Thank You in Japanese</h2>

Finding the right way to say thank you in Japanese can be difficult, as it usually depends on social status, relationships, and your situation. However, regardless of whether you’re in a formal business setting or expressing gratitude to your friend, learning how to say thank you in Japanese is integral to upholding cultural standards. To help you get started, download [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) and match with a native speaker. Then, practice these XX ways to say thank you in Japanese

<h3>1. ありがとう — Arigato — Thank you</h3>

One of the most common ways to say thank you in Japanese is arigato. The arigato meaning is a simple English translation of “thank you” and can be used in many different situations. However, it’s somewhat casual, so you might want to use something more formal in a professional setting. If you’re not sure if it’s appropriate, it’s better to play it safe and stick to the more respected options.
<h3>2. ありがとう ございます — Arigato gozaimasu — Thank you (polite)</h3>
If you want to say arigato, but with a little more politeness than the shortened version, you can use this phrase. It’s considered to be more polite and respected among older individuals. It’s also more appropriate for work settings, strangers, or people with whom you just started a relationship.
<h3>3. あざす — Azasu — Thank you (slang)</h3>
This slang way to say thank you in Japanese is derived from arigato gozaimasu. How did it come to be; you may ask? Well, it’s basically what arigato gozaimasu sounds like if you say it really, really fast. Since it’s slang, however, keep it casual and among friends and never use it with a respected adult or higher up.
 <h3>4. ありがとう ございました — Arigato gozaimashita — Thank you (past tense)</h3>
This is yet another option for enhancing the simple saying of arigato. It’s a way to thank someone for something they have already done or after a service. Essentially, what you’re saying thank you for has been completed and is now in the past.
<h3>5. サンキュー — Sankyu — Thank you</h3>
Does the pronunciation for this one seem a little familiar? That’s because it’s the Japanese version of the English thank you. It’s considered a borrowed phrase and sounds very similar to how you’d say thank you in English, with Japanese pronunciation. However, this is an extremely casual way to say thank you, so keep it for use among friends and close acquaintances. 
<h3>6. すみません — Sumimasen — Excuse me</h3>
This is an interesting way to say thank you in Japanese because it technically translates to “excuse me.” It’s still commonly used to express gratitude but can also be used to say sorry. In fact, many Japanese people will apologize rather than thank someone because they may feel like a burden for having had someone do something for them. The culture is deeply rooted in politeness, so sorry and thank you are often intertwined.
<h3>7. すまない — Sumanai — Excuse me (slang)</h3>
This is a slang version of sumimasen that’s used more often among guys than girls. While it’s not really considered a gendered phrase, females using it may come off a bit more abrasive or harsh. Since it’s casual, keep it among close friends.
<h3>8. 恐れ入ります — Osoreirimasu — Thank you (extremely formal)</h3>
This is one of the most formal ways to say thank you in Japanese. In fact, it’s not often heard in conversations, not even in typical office situations. In reality, this is a way to say thank you that should be reserved for higher-ups or very respected individuals in the community. So much so that if you used it amongst friends or family, you’d probably be greeted with a pretty peculiar look. 
<h3>9. どうも — Doumo — Thank you</h3>
If you want to keep your thanks short, sweet, and to the point, doumo is the way to go. It’s even more casual than arigato and carries an extremely light tone. Because of this, you only want to use doumo in situations among close friends or even siblings. While some cashiers or restaurant staff are okay with this expression of gratitude, others may consider it rude, so it’s best to play it on the safe side and use something more respected.
<h3>10. どうも ありがとう — Doumo arigato — Thank you very much</h3>
This is the more polite version of doumo. It’s a great way to say thank you very much in Japanese in a more friendly or polite way. You can use this phrase among friends and family or younger generations when you want to express your gratitude for something.</h3>
<h3>11. どうも ありがとう ございます — Doumo arigato gozaimasu — Thank you very much (very polite)</h3>
In Japanese, the general rule is that the longer it takes to say something, the more polite it is. As you can see, this phrase is the most elongated form of doumo and is basically an extremely polite way to say thank you very much in Japanese. Sometimes, Japanese speakers even add a bow when saying this phrase to show their extreme gratitude and respect for the other.
<h3>12. 本当に ありがとう ございます — Hontoni arigato gozaimasu — Really, thank you very much</h3>
This is another great option for a polite and semi-formal thank you in Japanese. The “hontoni” is basically a way to say “truly” or “really” and can help add a little something extra to your thanks. While this phrase is a bit less common than other ways to say thanks in Japanese, it will be well received by those you use it with.
<h3>13. 拝謝申し上げます — Haisha moushiagemasu — Thank you very much</h3>
Another way to say thank you very much in Japanese is haisha moushiagemasu. This is a more humble way to show gratitude and is often used to thank someone higher in societal ranking, like an elderly individual. It shows that you respect them and is considered an honorable way of thanking someone while acknowledging that you’re below them.
<h2>Other Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese</h2>
There are even a few nonverbal ways to say thank you in Japanese, as actions tend to speak louder than words in this culture. Two of the most prominent ways to nonverbally thank someone include gift-giving and bowing.
<h3>Gift-Giving</h3>
Gift-giving in Japan is more than a mere exchange of objects; it's a thoughtful, artful expression of appreciation. Many individuals will give small gift exchanges as a way to say thank you, so don’t be surprised if you find your hands full. Just make sure to accept it with both hands, open it later, and show your appreciation to return the favor.
<h3>Bowing</h3>
Bowing in Japanese culture is a profound symbol of respect and gratitude. It's not just a nod of the head; it's a language of its own. Depending on the depth and intensity, bows can range from casual levels of thanks to deep gratitude and respect. You’ll need to keep your back straight and hinge from the waist. The lower you bow, the higher the respect you show. Practice your [numbers in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-numbers) and try bowing at じゅうご (15) degrees in casual settings to see how it feels!

<h2>Applying What You Know</h2>

Saying thank you in Japanese transcends words; it is a profound act of respect and appreciation that reflects not only the language but the spirit of Japan. From the informal "ありがとう" (Arigato) that warms the heart of a friend to the more formal "恐れ入ります" (Osoreirimasu) uttered in business settings, each phrase carries its own significance and reflects the intricate web of Japanese society. To help you truly master the art of saying thank you in Japanese, download Tandem today.

Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you master [greetings in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/greetings-in-japanese), [cute Japanese words](https://www.tandem.net/blog/cute-japanese-words), and everything in between—all while learning how to apply them in real-life conversations. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for [Tandem](https://app.adjust.com/4viw82u) today!

Want to learn how to say thank you in Japanese? Check out these 13 different options, learn the arigato meaning, and say thank you in Japanese with a bow.

How to say thank you in Japanese, thank you very much in Japanese, thank you in Japanese

Thanks in Japanese

How Do You Say Thank You in Japanese?

arigato meaning, thank you in Japan, how to say in Japanese thank you

Thank you in Japanese

1. ありがとう — Arigato — Thank you, 2. ありがとう ございます — Arigato gozaimasu — Thank you (polite), 3. あざす — Azasu — Thank you (slang), 4. ありがとう ございました — Arigato gozaimashita — Thank you (past tense), 5. サンキュー — Sankyu — Thank you, 6. すみません — Sumimasen — Excuse me, 7. すまない — Sumanai — Excuse me (slang), 8. 恐れ入ります — Osoreirimasu — Thank you (extremely formal), 9. どうも — Doumo — Thank you, 10. どうも ありがとう — Doumo arigato — Thank you very much, 11. どうも ありがとう ございます — Doumo arigato gozaimasu — Thank you very much (very polite), 12. 本当に ありがとう ございます — Hontoni arigato gozaimasu — Really, thank you very much, 13. 拝謝申し上げます — Haisha moushiagemasu — Thank you very much

how to say in Japanese thank you

Learning Japanese can be a bit overwhelming. You need to familiarize yourself with the different alphabets, learn pronunciations, and adhere to all the different grammatical rules. In fact, experts believe that it can take as long as three to six months for someone to reach a beginner level! But don’t let that stop you. Learning Japanese is possible, you just need to have some patience and stay committed. Luckily, if you've been asking yourself, "how do you greet someone in Japanese?" you've come to the right place. For some great conversation starters, we’ve put together some of the most common greetings in Japanese and when to use them.

<h2>How to Greet Someone in Japanese</h2>

There are several ways to greet someone in Japanese, but many of the greetings depend on your relationship with the person and your situation. You can practice using both informal and formal greetings in Japanese by downloading the [Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) app today! In the meantime, to help you navigate the intricacies of how to greet people in Japanese (without offending anyone), consider some of the most common options below.

<h3>1. こんにちは — Konnichiwa — Hello/Good afternoon</h3>

One of the most common greetings in Japanese really is Konnichiwa, and it can be used in almost any situation or occasion. It’s even considered one of the formal greetings in Japanese. However, since it means “good afternoon,” it’s best to use it during the day.

<h3>2. おはよう ございます — Ohayou gozaimasu — Good morning (formal)</h3>

Another one of the formal greetings in Japanese is おはよう ございます, which is used to say “good morning.” This is mainly used when you are greeting someone that you don’t know well, or when addressing one of your superiors in the morning hours.

<h3>3. おはよう — Ohayou — Good morning (informal)</h3>

If you want to say good morning to one of your friends or someone in your family, you can drop the second part of the greeting above to shorten it to おはよう, pronounced ohayou (kind of like the state, Ohio).

<h3>4. こんばんは — Konbanwa — Good evening</h3>

The third way to greet someone based on the time of day is こんばんは, pronounced konbanwa. On its own, it’s considered formal and can be used between people in any relationship. However, try to keep this greeting for the late afternoon or anytime in the evening.

<h3>5. おやすみなさい — Oyasumi nasai — Good night</h3>

If you want to tell someone goodnight, you can say おやすみなさい. Although it’s not technically considered a greeting, it’s a nice way to tell someone that you’re going to sleep. Directly translated, it means “go take a rest.” You can also drop the “nasai” and just say おやすみ for informal usage.

<h3>6. やあ! — Ya! — Hi!</h3>

If you’re looking for a casual way to say hi to friends, simply say やあ!, pronounced “ya.” Avoid using this in formal situations though, because it’s more of a way to grab someone’s attention. Oftentimes, it’s followed by an exclamation mark.

<h3>7. ヤッホ — Ya-ho — Yoohoo</h3>

When learning how to greet people in Japanese, don’t forget to learn a few informal options for when you develop close friendships! One of the most common one is ヤッホ! It’s similar to “hi” or “yo” in English and can be used as a greeting and a way to get someone’s attention. It’s a younger greeting and very informal, so don’t use it with your superiors.

<h3>8. よぉ! — Yo! — Yo!</h3>

You can also get someone's attention by saying よぉ. Although it’s often used by younger men, anyone can say it—as long as they’re talking to someone they know well.

<h3>9. おす! — Osu! — Hey!</h3>

Another informal way to greet someone in Japanese is to say おす! This translates directly to “hey,” but the word tends to be a bit more masculine, so it’s mostly used amongst men. There are also two other variations that all mean the same おーい! (Ōi!) or おっす! (Ossu!).

<h3>10. もしもし — Moshi moshi — Hello?</h3>

Whenever you answer the telephone, you can say もしもし, which is pronounced as “moshi moshi.” However, this should only be when you answer the phone from someone that you’re close with, like a friend or family member. If you’re answering a call for business, stick to the formal greeting of はい, pronounced “hai.”

<h3>11. お久しぶりですね — O-hisashiburi desune — Long time no see</h3>

If you run into someone that you haven’t seen in a while, you can say お久しぶりですね. This translates to “long time no see” and is commonly said to someone after going about a month or longer without seeing them. It can be used as one of the formal greetings in Japanese, but you can also drop the beginning and end to make it a little less formal.

<h3>12. いかがお過ごしですか？ — Ikaga osugoshi desu ka? — How are you doing?</h3>

When you want to ask someone how they’re doing, but are speaking to a person of authority, a superior, or an elderly person that you aren’t familiar with, use the phrase いかがお過ごしですか？ You can use it on its own after saying hello or use it as a way to introduce another question. Always use this version if you’re speaking to someone you don’t know and are unsure of their status.

<h3>13. お元気ですか？ — O genki desu ka? — How are you? (formal)</h3>

When learning how to greet someone in Japanese, an option is always to ask how they’re doing. If you want to do that in a formal setting, it’s important to use お元気ですか, which is pronounced as “o genki desu ka?” It’s a great option when meeting someone new, but you can also use it with close friends and family. Directly translated, it means, “Are you healthy?” However, always start your conversation with a formal hello before using this greeting.

<h3>14. 元気だった？ — Genki datta? — How are you? (informal)</h3>

When talking amongst friends or close family members, you can tone it down and use the informal 元気だった？ to ask how they’re doing. It’s good amongst friends and can be shortened even further by dropping the second half of the phrase so it reads 元気？

<h3>15. どうよ？ — Dōyo? — How’s it going?</h3>

Finally, if you want to learn how to greet people in Japanese and ask about what’s going on in their life, you can say どうよ？ This directly translates to, “how’s life?” and is a casual way to strike up a conversation with someone you know well. 

Learning how to greet someone in Japanese can be fun, but if you have no one to practice with, it can get a little mundane. Luckily, there’s an app for that! Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you deepen your understanding and improve your Japanese greetings while learning how and when to use them in everyday life. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for [Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today! 

Have you ever wondered how to greet someone in Japanese? Well, there are many more ways to do so other than the infamous saying, konnichiwa! Check out our exclusive guide on some of the most common greetings in Japanese and when to use them.

Japanese Greetings

Greetings in Japanese

Learning Japanese can be a lot of fun, especially when it comes to Japanese numbers. Here, we’ll cover the numbers 1 to 100 in Japanese and how to pronounce them.

Japanese numbers

Numbers in Japanese

One of the most important parts of learning Japanese is understanding Japanese noun cases. Nouns are used to describe a person, place, or thing, but noun cases can get a little more complicated. Japanese nouns are much broader—there are several different types that are used for various reasons. Some things that aren’t usually known as nouns in English are actually classified as nouns in Japanese. Similarly, some nouns in English aren’t nouns in Japanese. Although this can make your head spin a bit, there are tools to help you understand the various types of noun cases and when to use them. In this article, we’ll go over all of these details and more.

<h2>Understanding Japanese Nouns</h2>

Before getting into the different Japanese noun cases, it’s important to understand one distinct difference between English nouns—Japanese nouns are never associated with a gender, number, or even an article (i.e., a or the). Whether you’re talking about one book (本) or several books (本), the Japanese noun remains the same. However, in certain instances, you may need to add additional words to indicate something is plural. This can include words like “many” or the number itself.

Some nouns are one symbol of the [Japanese alphabet](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-alpabhet), while others are a mixture of a few symbols. This makes it a little easier for native English speakers to pick up, but there are still conjugations that need to be understood. Japanese noun cases are conjugated in a similar way that you [conjugate verbs in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/conjugate-verbs-japanese).

![Japanese noun cases](//images.ctfassets.net/2j65dwz7bf88/4N69RzxB0v7m6JKOGmOlKb/d36d0d11beeea81e0a9bd107fd3ef29a/French_Reflexive_Verbs-26-min.jpg)

<h2>Different Types of Japanese Noun Cases</h2>

Japanese noun cases are used to clarify different functions of nouns, like whether they’re the subject or object of verbs and adjectives. When a Japanese noun is considered the nominative case (が) it means they are the subject of the sentence. Accusative Japanese noun cases (を) are used to refer to the object of a sentence. These are the two primary noun cases used in Japanese, but there are also a variety of others that you need to be aware of.

- Dative Japanese noun case (に) are considered the recipient of an action.

- Instrumental Japanese noun cases (で) are used to describe an instrument or method that’s used in order to perform a specific action.

- Locative noun cases in Japanese (で and に) are used when you want to talk about a location where something is or a location where a specific action occurs.

- Lative Japanese noun cases (へ and に) are used in order to talk about a direction that an action occurs in.

- Ablative noun cases in Japanese (から) help describe the point from where an action occurs or begins. It describes an origin or source.

- Comitative Japanese noun cases (と) are used to describe a person who accommodates the subject of a sentence.

- Genitive Japanese noun cases (の) are used to create possessive [adjectives in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-adjectives). They can also be used to describe a genitive subject.

<h2>Japanese Noun Conjugation</h2>

Japanese noun cases are conjugated based on the context and plurality. When you’re referring to people and you want to indicate that they’re plural, you will add the suffix たち. Although this can make Japanese seem like a difficult language to learn, speaking with a native on [Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) can help you improve your understanding and boost your pronunciation. In the meantime, consider how some Japanese noun cases are conjugated into a plural below:

- Woman (女性) — Women (女性たち)
- Child (子供) — Children (子供たち)

There are additional suffixes that you can use based on the situation. For instance, if you want to talk about a flower shop, the noun for flower (花) will receive the suffix や is added. If you want to talk about someone who is an expert in something, you would add the suffix か.

In situations where you want to join two nouns, you connect them with the the symbol の. For example,

- Japanese — 日本語
- Class — クラス
- Japanese class — 日本語のクラス

This can be done in any situation where you’re connecting nouns to create compound Japanese nouns. If you want to express the number of items or objects in a sentence, you can use a Japanese counter. For example:

- One piece — 一個
- Three pieces — 三個

<h2>Japanese Short Form Conjugation</h2>

Japanese short form conjugation is only used in certain situations, especially during casual conversations, when expressing ideas, and when making negative requests. It can also be used during quoted speech. However, when using it during casual conversation, it should only be used if you are good friends with the other person or family.

![Japanese noun cases](//images.ctfassets.net/2j65dwz7bf88/5q4FFfoLU0W41zmFZPtcsg/87bf4f7537f58c94a8a544781eaa1d82/French_Reflexive_Verbs-27-min.jpg)

<h2>Some Commonly Used Japanese Nouns</h2>

There are hundreds of different Japanese noun cases that exist, but you can start working towards your fluency with a few of the most commonly used words.

- Cell phone — 携帯電話
- Computer — コンピューター
- WiFi — ワイファイ
- Airplane — 飛行機
- Train — 電車
- Bus — バス
- Bicycle — 自転車
- Menu — メニュー
- Bill — 会計
- Water — 水
- Chopsticks — 箸箸
- Teacher — 先生/教師
- Homework — 宿題
- Student — 生徒/学生
- Exam — 試験
- Doctor — 医師
- Lawyer — 弁護士
- Police Officer — 警察官
- Mother — 母/お母さん
- Father — 父/お父さん
- Son — 息子
- Daughter — 娘
- Family — 家族
- Body — 体
- Face — 顔
- Eye — 目
- Mouth — 口
- Head — 頭
- Yesterday — 昨日
- Today — 今日
- Tomorrow — 明日
- Day — 日
- Week — 週
- Month — 月
- Year — 年

Mastering a new language takes time, especially when you’re learning Japanese. Although it can seem like a lot to process, the best thing to help you work towards fluency is to talk with a native speaker. To help you achieve this, Tandem created a unique learning app that’s easy to use, educational, and fun. 

Tandem is a worldwide language learning platform with a community of learners looking to achieve fluency in hundreds of languages. All you need to do is sign up, download the app, match with a native Japanese speaker, and start communicating. You can talk about your day, share stories from your past, and get to know each other while both advancing towards fluency in your target languages. This gives you a better opportunity to perfect your pronunciation and grow your vocabulary. Tandem works to help our members foster a deeper understanding of language while improving fluency and building long-lasting friendships. To join our community and work on your fluency, sign up for [Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today. 


One of the most important parts of learning Japanese is understanding Japanese noun cases. In this article, we’ll go over all of these details and more.

japanese noun conjugation , japanese short from conjugation, japanese noun conjugation chart

Japanese noun cases

Japanese Noun Cases

What to Know About Japanese Noun Cases

While learning the building blocks of Japanese is an important first step, it can be difficult to express yourself properly without the right adjectives. Japanese adjectives can help you describe yourself, tell stories, and get to know native speakers. They add depth and color to your sentences and can allow you to connect more deeply with whoever you’re speaking to. However, Japanese adjectives tend to be overlooked at first. 

Many new speakers try to focus on learning the alphabet, memorizing kanji characters, and deciphering verb conjugation. But, if you really want to enhance your fluency, you need to dedicate some time to learning adjectives in Japanese. Over time, it will get easier, but to help you get started, here’s a comprehensive guide to learning adjectives in Japanese.

![Japanese adjectives](//images.ctfassets.net/2j65dwz7bf88/1oZnrHfGP8Ux6UJcpGA3fE/b1aa1f38619912126ec258b6b870761a/French_Reflexive_Verbs-25-min.jpg)

<h2>How Do Adjectives Work in Japanese?</h2>

There are two distinct types of adjectives in Japanese, い (i) adjectives and な (na) adjectives. Although different, both sets follow the same rule with only one exception that varies between the two. This can make learning the inner workings of Japanese adjectives much easier. To begin, let’s take a deeper look at how adjectives work in Japanese.

<h3>Does the Adjective Come Before the Noun in Japanese?</h3>

Japanese adjectives will always come before the noun, just like in English. This means you don’t have to worry about trying to memorize varying word order for sentences. Whether you want to say tall man (長者) or green car (グリーンカー), the order is the same.

<h3>How to List Adjectives in Japanese</h3>

When you want to use more than one Japanese adjective in a sentence, you can use a list format similar to English. You’ll need to add all of the adjectives in their conjugated form, except for the last one in the list. For example,

- あのホテルは古くて、暗くて、汚かった。— The hotel was old, dark, and dirty.

In this example, we use old (古), dark (暗い), and dirty (淫ら) as three separate adjectives. You can see them expressed in the list above after being conjugated. To better understand how to do this, let’s learn more about how to conjugate Japanese adjectives.

<h2>Understanding Japanese Adjective Conjugation</h2>

Another key element of learning adjectives in Japanese is understanding the difference between い adjectives and な adjectives and how to conjugate them. While flashcards can help with rote memorization, one of the best ways to help solidify your understanding of Japanese adjectives is to [download Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) and match with a native speaker. This will give you real-world practice and a better understanding of how to incorporate adjectives naturally in your communication. Let’s explore both types below.

<h3>How to Conjugate い Adjectives in Japanese</h3>

い adjectives are considered “true” or “pure” adjectives and always end in the character い from the [Japanese alphabet](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-alpabhet). However, not all adjectives that end in い are considered true adjectives. They can be used both to describe a noun or on their own. Some examples include:

- 寒い — cold
- 速い — fast
- 甘い — sweet
- 新しい — new
- 面白い — interesting

Conjugating い adjectives in Japanese is what makes this form unique. Doing so will take the plain form of a word and change its tense. Luckily, if you know how to [conjugate verbs in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/conjugate-verbs-japanese), conjugating adjectives is a breeze. With the exception of one rule, conjugating い adjectives all follow the same rule. Consider the table below on how to conjugate the Japanese adjective 速い  (fast).

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th></th>
        <th>Plain</th>
        <th>Polite</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>Present (is fast)</td>
        <td>速い</td>
        <td>速いです</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Present Negative (isn’t fast)</td>
        <td>速くない</td>
        <td>速くありません</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past (was fast)</td>
        <td>速かった</td>
        <td>速かったです</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past Negative (wasn’t fast)</td>
        <td>速くなかった</td>
        <td>速くありません でした</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

<h3>How to Conjugate the Only Irregular Japanese Adjective</h3>

In Japanese, there’s only one irregular adjective, which is いい (good). Although it’s in the Japanese script of hiragana, it’s often written in kanji as 良い. Therefore, it follows the same rules of conjugation as い adjectives. You can view this conjugation for 良い(good) in the table below.

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th></th>
        <th>Plain</th>
        <th>Polite</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>Present (is good)</td>
        <td>良い</td>
        <td>良いです</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Present Negative (isn’t good)</td>
        <td>良くない</td>
        <td>良くありません</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past (was good)</td>
        <td>良かった</td>
        <td>良かったです</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past Negative (wasn’t good)</td>
        <td>良くなかった</td>
        <td>良くありませんでした</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

<h3>How to Conjugate な Adjectives in Japanese</h3>

な adjectives are considered “quasi” adjectives of “adjectival-nouns.” These types of adjectives can end in various characters, some of them even end in い. What sets these Japanese adjectives apart is the use of な. When used in a sentence, な will always appear between the adjective and the [Japanese noun cases](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-noun-cases). If no noun precedes the Japanese adjective, the な can be dropped. Some examples include:

- 元気 — healthy or lively
- きれい — pretty or clean
- 好き — favorite
- 静か — quiet
- 有名 — famous

Another thing to be aware of is that in some instances, い adjectives can change to な adjectives. However, this is usually only done in songs or poetry, so don’t worry about tackling that understanding just yet. For now, practice differentiating between the two and understanding conjugation. 

To learn how to conjugate な adjectives in Japanese, let’s look at 元気 (healthy or lively) in various tenses below.  

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th></th>
        <th>Plain</th>
        <th>Polite</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>Present (is lively)</td>
        <td>元気だ</td>
        <td>元気です</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Present Negative (isn’t lively)</td>
        <td>元気ではない</td>
        <td>元気ではありません</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past (was lively)</td>
        <td>元気だった</td>
        <td>元気でした</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>Past Negative (wasn’t lively)</td>
        <td>元気ではなかった</td>
        <td>元気ではありませんでした</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

![Japanese adjectives](//images.ctfassets.net/2j65dwz7bf88/5pfAwtZSeARSGzs2xMI63c/38d5cc017f8417be13972f7132739fcf/French_Reflexive_Verbs-24-min.jpg)

<h2>A List of Common Japanese Adjectives</h2>

One of the best ways to get started learning Japanese adjectives is to consider which adjectives you regularly use in English. This will give you a good starting point for the common Japanese adjectives that will be most beneficial to your situation. To help, consider the following list of the most common Japanese adjectives to learn.

- 大きい — big
- せまい — small
- 良い — good
- 悪い — bad
- きれい — pretty or clean
- 穢い — dirty
- 美しい — beautiful
- 醜い — ugly
- おもな — important
- 慌ただしい — busy
- 安らか — quiet
- 煩い — loud
- 高い — expensive
- 安い — cheap
- ふるき — old
- 新しい — new
- 熱臭い — hot
- 寒冷 — cold
- 弱い — weak
- 強い — strong
- 背が高い — tall
- 背が低い — short
- 金のない — broke
- 親切 — kind

While trying to understand the various Japanese adjectives can seem like an impossible task, the hardest part is getting started. Once you begin to memorize commonly used adjectives and how they’re conjugated, incorporating them into your sentences will become second nature. To help you practice, try communicating with a native speaker! At Tandem, we give individuals an opportunity to pair with like-minded Japanese speakers to work towards fluency and foster new friendships.  

Tandem is a unique language learning platform with a community of learners around the world. All you need to do is sign up, download the app, match with a native Japanese speaker, and start communicating. You’ll work together to teach each other your native language while continuing to perfect the pronunciation and grammar needed for fluency. Tandem works to help our members foster a deeper understanding of language while improving fluency and building long-lasting friendships. To join our community and work on your fluency, [sign up for Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to learning adjectives in Japanese and enhance your fluency.


Adjectives in Japanese, Japanese adjective, Japanese adjectives


Japanese adjectives

Here’s a comprehensive guide to learning adjectives in Japanese and enhance your fluency.

A Comprehensive Guide to Adjectives in Japanese

There are two distinct types of adjectives in Japanese, い (i) adjectives and な (na) adjectives. Although different, both sets follow the same rule with only one exception that varies between the two.

How Do Adjectives Work in Japanese?

Japanese adjectives will always come before the noun, just like in English. This means you don’t have to worry about trying to memorize varying word order for sentences.

Does the Adjective Come Before the Noun in Japanese?

When you want to use more than one Japanese adjective in a sentence, you can use a list format similar to English.

How to List Adjectives in Japanese

い adjectives are considered “true” or “pure” adjectives and always end in the character い from the Japanese alphabet.

How to Conjugate い Adjectives in Japanese

な adjectives are considered “quasi” adjectives of “adjectival-nouns.” These types of adjectives can end in various characters, some of them even end in い. What sets these Japanese adjectives apart is the use of な

How to Conjugate な Adjectives in Japanese

Learning a language can be challenging, but working with the same alphabet makes things a little easier. When you have to navigate an entirely new alphabet filled with unfamiliar shapes, letters, and symbols, things can get a little harder. This is especially true when learning Japanese. 

Japanese is an exotic language that’s extremely unique. The first step in mastering this language is understanding the alphabet in Japanese. Unlike other languages, this can take a little bit of time. In fact, the Japanese alphabet makes this language one of the more challenging to learn by native English speakers. Luckily, speaking Japanese is often much easier than writing. Regardless, you still need a solid base, which begins with learning the Japanese alphabet. 

In this article, we’ll go over some key pieces of information regarding the Japanese alphabet in English and everything you need to know for the first step towards fluency.

<h2>An Overview of the Japanese Alphabet from A – Z</h2>

English uses Latin script, but the Japanese alphabet uses two different scripts called kana (which includes hiragana and katakana) and kanji. Hiragana, katakana, and kanji are all complementary to each other. They aren’t different alphabets, but instead they all work together to create the written language of Japanese. This is one of the reasons that many people struggle to master this language, but it’s not impossible.

 Some examples of sentences that incorporate various parts of the Japanese alphabet include:

- この後、映画を観に行きたい — I want to go to the movies later
- 外で過ごすのが好きなんです — I like spending time outside
- 好きな色はブルーです — My favorite color is blue
- アマゾンで働く — I work for Amazon
- 私の母は日本で生まれました — My mom was born in Japan

There are some sentences that combine all three, while others may only use two. It just depends on what’s being said. Luckily, once you master hiragana and katakana (which are considered “kana” characters), you’ll be able to start reading Japanese. However, if you want to reach full fluency, you’ll need to master kanji as well, which are often more difficult.

After you learn the Japanese alphabet, you can start learning how to conjugate verbs in Japanese, different adjectives, and nouns. Luckily, you won’t have to worry about articles, grammatical genders, or even spaces in your writing!

<h2>Japanese Alphabet Kana</h2>

The kana Japanese alphabet is used to represent various sounds used in the spoken language. This includes both hiragana and katakana, which each have a unique character for specific syllables. 

Both hiragana and katakana Japanese alphabets have 46 basic characters, making them a good first step in the learning process. The Japanese alphabet contains vowels for each kana, which are also a, i, u, e, and o. These combine with the consonants k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, and w to complete all of the possible sounds. Rather than singular letters like a, b, c, the Japanese alphabet represents entire sounds. 

You can learn more about each type of kana below.

<h3>Hiragana Japanese Alphabet</h3>

The hiragana form of the Japanese alphabet is usually used to represent adverbs, auxiliary verbs, postpositions, particles, and even function words. They may also be used in some instances to replace kanji characters. The hiragana Japanese alphabet of sounds is as follows:

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th colspan="6" >Hiragana Japanese Alphabet</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td></td>
        <td>a</td>
        <td>i</td>
        <td>u</td>
        <td>e</td>
        <td>0</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td></td>
        <td>(a) あ</td>
        <td>(i) い</td>
        <td>(u)う</td>
        <td>(e) え</td>
        <td>(o) お</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>k</td>
        <td>(ka) か</td>
        <td>(ki) き</td>
        <td>(ku) く</td>
        <td>(ke) け</td>
        <td>(ko) こ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>s</td>
        <td>(sa) さ</td>
        <td>(shi) し</td>
        <td>(su) す</td>
        <td>(se) せ</td>
        <td>(so) そ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>t</td>
        <td>(ta) た</td>
        <td>(chi) ち</td>
        <td>(tsu) つ</td>
        <td>(te) て</td>
        <td>(to) と</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>n</td>
        <td>(na) な</td>
        <td>(ni) に</td>
        <td>(nu) ぬ</td>
        <td>(ne) ね</td>
        <td>(no) の</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>h</td>
        <td>(ha) は</td>
        <td>(hi) ひ</td>
        <td>(fu) ふ</td>
        <td>(he) へ</td>
        <td>(ho) ほ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>m</td>
        <td>(ma) ま</td>
        <td>(mi) み</td>
        <td>(mu) む</td>
        <td>(me) め</td>
        <td>(mo) も</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>y</td>
        <td>(ya) や</td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(yu) ゆ</td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(yo) よ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>r</td>
        <td>(ra) ら</td>
        <td>(ri) り</td>
        <td>(ru) る</td>
        <td>(re) れ</td>
        <td>(ro) ろ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>w</td>
        <td>(wa) わ</td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(wo) を</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>n</td>
        <td>(n) ん</td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

Since these sounds don’t make up the entirety of Japanese spoken words, you’ll also need to learn how to combine or modify certain characters in order to achieve the right syllable. This involves adding either a dakuten or a handakuten, which provide you with more information on how to pronounce the change.

<h3>Katakana Japanese Alphabet</h3>

The katakana form of the Japanese alphabet is used to represent several technical terms, foreign words, certain plants and animals, onomatopoeias, and much of the Japanese slang. The katakana Japanese alphabet of sounds is as follows:

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th colspan="6">Katakana Japanese Alphabet</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td></td>
        <td>a</td>
        <td>i</td>
        <td>u</td>
        <td>e</td>
        <td>0</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td></td>
        <td>(a) ア</td>
        <td>(i) イ</td>
        <td>(u) ウ</td>
        <td>(e) エ</td>
        <td>(o) オ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>k</td>
        <td>(ka) カ</td>
        <td>(ki) キ</td>
        <td>(ku) ク</td>
        <td>(ke) ケ</td>
        <td>(ko) コ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>s</td>
        <td>(sa) サ</td>
        <td>(shi) シ</td>
        <td>(su) ス</td>
        <td>(se) セ</td>
        <td>(so) ソ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>t</td>
        <td>(ta) タ</td>
        <td>(chi) チ</td>
        <td>(tsu) ツ</td>
        <td>(te) テ</td>
        <td>(to) ト</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>n</td>
        <td>(na) ナ</td>
        <td>(ni) ニ</td>
        <td>(nu) ヌ</td>
        <td>(ne) ネ</td>
        <td>(no) ノ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>h</td>
        <td>(ha) ハ</td>
        <td>(hi) ヒ</td>
        <td>(fu) フ</td>
        <td>(he) ヘ</td>
        <td>(ho) ホ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>m</td>
        <td>(ma) マ</td>
        <td>(mi) ミ</td>
        <td>(mu) ム</td>
        <td>(me) メ</td>
        <td>(mo) モ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>y</td>
        <td>(ya) ヤ</td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(yu) ユ</td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(yo) ヨ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>r</td>
        <td>(ra) ラ</td>
        <td>(ri) リ</td>
        <td>(ru) ル</td>
        <td>(re) レ</td>
        <td>(ro) ロ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>w</td>
        <td>(wa) ワ</td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td>(wo) ヲ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>n</td>
        <td>(n) ン</td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
        <td></td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

After learning both hiragana and katakana, you may notice that they’re very similar. The two components of the Japanese alphabet represent the same sounds, but they’re written differently. They’re also used for different words.

<h2>Japanese Alphabet Kanji</h2>

The kanji script is a part of the Japanese alphabet that’s influenced by the Chinese alphabet. Rather than representing a letter, each kanji character stands for an entire concept or idea. They act almost as pictures that represent words or phrases. Practicing kanji can be fun and rewarding when working with a native speaker. To help improve your understanding of the Japanese alphabet, [download Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today.

Kanji characters are often used for adjectives in Japanese, nouns, adverbs, and verbs. This means they’re more commonly used than hiragana and katakana. The variations in scripts may seem pretty fascinating when trying to learn the Japanese alphabet in English, but it can also be overwhelming.

There are over 50,000 different kanji characters that are used in the Japanese language. However, you don’t have to stress over memorizing them all, as most native speakers don’t even know them all. A more obtainable goal is trying to learn the most common kanji used in the Japanese alphabet, which is about 500 symbols. 

You should also try to memorize the [Japanese noun cases](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-noun-cases) you use most often. Some examples of the most common kanji characters include:

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th>Kanji Symbol</th>
        <th>Kanji Meaning</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>国</td>
        <td>country</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>人</td>
        <td>person</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>日</td>
        <td>sun, day, Japan, counter for days</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>本</td>
        <td>book, true, present, counter for long cylindrical things</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>出</td>
        <td>exit, go out, leave</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>行</td>
        <td>going, row, journey, carry out, line</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>方</td>
        <td>alternative, direction, person</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>市</td>
        <td>city, town, market</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>間</td>
        <td>interval, space</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>前</td>
        <td>in front, before</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>後</td>
        <td>behind, back, late</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>子</td>
        <td>child</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>米</td>
        <td>rice, meter, USA</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>外</td>
        <td>outside</td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

As you can see, some kanji characters have several different meanings. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to understand which meaning is intended based on the context of a sentence. Some kanji are simple, like person, and can be written with two strokes. Others, like behind, can take several strokes. In fact, certain kanji characters require over 20 different strokes to write! 

A good way to memorize the kanji alphabet in Japanese is to simply practice identifying them, writing them, and using them in a sentence.

Although difficult, learning the Japanese alphabet is not impossible. With a little education, dedication to studying, and the right amount of practice, fluency is obtainable. Communicating with a native speaker is one of the best ways to help you get the most out of your efforts, but finding someone in your area that speaks Japanese (and wants to help you practice) may be difficult. That’s where Tandem comes in.

Tandem is a unique language learning platform with a community of learners around the world. All you need to do is sign up, download the app, match with a native Japanese speaker, and start communicating. You’ll work together to teach each other your native language while continuing to perfect the pronunciation and grammar needed for fluency. Tandem works to help our members foster a deeper understanding of language while improving fluency and building long-lasting friendships. To join our community and work on your fluency, [sign up for Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today. 


Go over some key pieces of information regarding the Japanese alphabet in English and everything you need to know for the first step towards fluency.

Alphabet in Japanese, Japanese alphabet in English, Japanese alphabets


Japanese alphabet

What to Know About the Japanese Alphabet


Learning Japanese can feel like an uphill battle. Not only do you need to memorize thousands of new characters and perfect your pronunciation, but you also need to learn how to string characters together to form a sentence and conjugate verbs. While the first step in language learning starts with the alphabet, one of the key elements in gaining fluency in Japanese is learning how to conjugate verbs. Even after mastering only a few basic verb conjugations, you’ll be able to form sentences and even express yourself.

Luckily, in comparison to other languages, Japanese verb conjugation is fairly straightforward. There are very few exceptions to the rules and even irregular verbs follow a pattern of sorts. In this article, we’ll give you some key information on how to conjugate verbs in Japanese, along with a few examples to help you along the way.

<h2>Japanese Verbs List</h2>

Japanese verbs are used in the same way that English verbs are used—to describe an action. They’re formed by combining different characters of the [Japanese alphabet](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-alpabhet). Some of the most common Japanese verbs used in language are as follows:

- 言う (lu) — to say
- 行く (iku) — to go
- する (saru) — to do
- くる (kuru) — to come
- です (desu) — to be
- 出来る (dekiru) — to be able to do
- 持つ (motsu) — to have/hold
- 見る (miru) — to see
- 待つ (matsu) — to wait
- 作る (tsukuru) — to make
- 着く (tsuku) — to arrive
- 出る (saru) — to leave
- 会う (au) — to meet
- 置く (oku) — to put
- 学ぶ (manabu) — to learn
- 受ける (uketoru) — to receive
- 食べる (taberu) — to eat
- 飲む (nomu) — to drink
- 使う (tsukau) — to use
- 呼ぶ (yobu) — to call
- 買う (kau) — to buy
- 聞く (kiku) — to hear
- 話す (hanasu) — to speak
- 死ぬ (shinu) — to die
- 要る (iru) — to need
- 寝る (neru) — to sleep
- 喋る (shaberu)— to chat

There are hundreds of different verbs that are used in language, but this is a basic list that can help you get started understanding how to conjugate Japanese verbs. The more you study, the more verbs you can add to your vocabulary.

<h2>Different Ways to Conjugate Japanese Verbs</h2>

Unlike other languages, Japanese verbs aren’t conjugated based on the subject’s gender or number. Instead, you will conjugate verbs in Japanese based on their group, tense, and formality. While this can be a little intimidating at first, working with a Japanese native speaker can help you gain more confidence. [Download Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today to practice your Japanese verb conjugation in real conversations.

In Japanese, there are only three verb groups and 14 different conjugation forms, which can make the learning process a little more straightforward. There are also two different ways to conjugate Japanese verbs, either formally (masu-form) or casually (plain form).

As an added bonus, the future tense doesn’t exist in Japanese, so you don’t have to worry about learning that either. In the following text, we’ll go over how to conjugate Japanese verbs in the present and past tense to get you started on your journey to fluency. To get started, let’s explore the three verb groups: U-verbs, Ru-verbs, and irregular verbs.

<h3>How to Conjugate U-Verbs in Japanese</h3>

U-verbs are also referred to as Godan verbs (五段動詞) or V1 verbs. This group includes every verb that ends with an a or u vowel sound. When conjugated, the u (う) vowel will change to another vowel that’s in the Hiragana alphabet—either a (あ), e (え), i (い), or o(お). Some examples of U-verbs include:

- 買う(kau)— to buy
- 死ぬ(shinu) — to die
- 話す(hanasu) — to speak
- 待つ (matsu) — to wait
- 飲む (nomu) — to drink

To conjugate U-verbs in the present polite form, you will change the う ending to the い row and add an additional ます. If you want to say someone is drinking, you will therefore change the characters from 飲む (nomu) to 飲みます (nomimasu).

You may want to have your Hiragana and Katakana Japanese alphabets handy for these conjugations as it will make the process much easier until their tables are memorized. Present tense plain form is pretty easy, because it’s just how it’s conjugated in the dictionary form.

To conjugate U-verbs in the past polite form, you will chante the う ending to the い row and add the ending ました. Therefore, if you want to say someone drank something, you will change 飲む (nomu) to 飲みました (nomimashita).

However, there are a few extra rules for the U-verbs in past plain form. This will require a little more memorization, but they’re the only exceptions to the rules. You can view them in the chart below:

<div class="table-wrapper">
  <table>
    <thead>
      <tr>
        <th>If a verb ends in…</th>
        <th>Drop…</th>
        <th>Add...</th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>う, つ, or る</td>
        <td>う / つ / る</td>
        <td>った</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>く</td>
        <td>く</td>
        <td>いた</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>ぐ</td>
        <td>ぐ</td>
        <td>いだ</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>す</td>
        <td>す</td>
        <td>した</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>ぬ, ぶ, or む</td>
        <td>ぬ, ぶ, or む</td>
        <td>んだ</td>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

<h3>Japanese Conjugation for Ru-Verbs</h3>

Ru-verbs are also referred to as Ichidan verbs (一段動詞) or V2 verbs. These verbs can be identified by their ending. They will end in any kana that is in the i (い) or e (え) column in addition to ru (る)—therefore the ending will always be iru/eru. The verb base will always stay the same, which is why their Japanese spelling of Ichidan includes the — symbol. They are considered one-form verbs. Some examples of Ru-verbs include:

- 食べる (taberu) — to eat
- 寝る (neru) — to sleep
- 見る (miru) — to see
- 起きる (okiru) — to wake up/get up
- 出る (deru) — to leave

To conjugate Ru-verbs in the present polite form, you will need to drop the る and add ます. Therefore, if you want to say someone eats, you will change the characters 食べる (taberu) to 食べます (tabemasu). Present tense plain form remains as it is in the dictionary.

To conjugate Ru-verbs in the past polite form, you will need to drop the る and add ました. Therefore, if you want to say someone ate, you will change the characters 食べる (taberu) to 食べました (tabemashita).

To conjugate Ru-verbs in the past plain form, you will need to drop the る and add た. In this instance, ate would change from 食べる (taberu) to 食べた (tabeta).

<h3>How to Conjugate Irregular Japanese Verbs</h3>

Irregular verbs (変格動詞) are also sometimes referred to as V3 verbs. Unlike other languages, conjugating irregular Japanese verbs is the easiest of the three, as there are only two verbs that are considered irregular: to do (する or suru) and to come (来る or kuru). Although their conjugation varies from the U-verbs and Ru-verbs, it’s easy to memorize the various forms of these two verbs. These two Japanese verbs are often paired with other [Japanese noun cases](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-noun-cases) to create other verbs, such as to study (勉強する or benkyō suru). This can also help clarify [adjectives in Japanese](https://www.tandem.net/blog/japanese-adjectives).

- To conjugate the Japanese irregular verb “to do” in the present tense you will change する (suru) to します (shimasu). To conjugate the Japanese verb “to come” you will change 来る (kuru) to 来ます (kimasu). Those are the only irregular verbs, so just try to memorize them and you’re all set!

- To conjugate the Japanese irregular verb “to do” in the past polite form, you’ll change する (suru) to しました (shimashita). To conjugate the same verb in the past plain form, you’ll change する (suru) to した (shita).

- To conjugate the Japanese irregular verb “to come” in the past polite form, you’ll change 来る (kuru) to 来ました (kimashita). To conjugate the same verb in the past plain form, you’ll change 来る (kuru) to 来た (kita).

When you know which group the Japanese verb belongs to, you can easily identify its stem and therefore, finalize your verb conjugation. Although it may seem a bit overwhelming at first, the more you practice, the better you’ll get. Another great way to help you solidify your knowledge on how to conjugate verbs in Japanese is to communicate with a native speaker within the Tandem community.

Tandem is a one-of-a-kind language learning platform that’s powered by millions of native speakers around the world. Rather than working through AI-generated content, Tandem allows you to match with a native Japanese speaker and communicate using real conversations. All you need to do is sign up, download the app, match with a native speaker of your target language, and introduce yourself! You can then work together to teach each other your native tongue. Our relationship-driven model is what makes Tandem unique, and many of our members even develop long-lasting friendships during their journey towards fluency. To join our community and work on your Japanese skills, sign up for [Tandem](https://go.tandem.net/LZFP) today. 


Japanese verb conjugation is fairly straightforward. In this article, we’ll give you some key information on how to conjugate verbs in Japanese.

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Japanase verbs representation

Conjugate verbs in Japanese

Japanase verb conjugation

U-verbs are also referred to as Godan verbs (五段動詞) or V1 verbs. This group includes every verb that ends with an a or u vowel sound. When conjugated, the u (う) vowel will change to another vowel that’s in the Hiragana alphabet—either a (あ), e (え), i (い), or o(お).

How to Conjugate U-Verbs in Japanese

Irregular verbs (変格動詞) are also sometimes referred to as V3 verbs. Unlike other languages, conjugating irregular Japanese verbs is the easiest of the three, as there are only two verbs that are considered irregular: to do (する or suru) and to come (来る or kuru).

How to Conjugate Irregular Japanese Verbs

Unlike other languages, Japanese verbs aren’t conjugated based on the subject’s gender or number. Instead, you will conjugate verbs in Japanese based on their group, tense, and formality.

How to Conjugate Verbs in Japanese

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