# Japanese Potential Form: Basic Japanese Grammar on Verb Potential Form - られる
> Use the Japanese potential form to express "can" and "able to." This post covers conjugation rules for all verb types, particle usage, and common mistakes.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-potential-form
**Last Updated:** 2026-01-18
**Tags:** fundamentals, vocabulary, phrases, grammar
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When you're [learning Japanese](https://migaku.com/learn-japanese), one of the first things you want to express is what you can and can't do, like "I can speak Japanese." The potential form transforms regular verbs into their "able to" versions. Instead of saying taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) meaning "to eat," you'd say taberareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>) meaning "can eat." Pretty straightforward concept. Read through this post to learn all the breakdowns!

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## How to form the potential in Japanese
The conjugation rules depend on what type of verb you're working with. Japanese verbs fall into three categories: godan verbs (<typo lang="ja" syntax="五[ご;o] 段[だん;a] 動詞[どうし;h]"></typo>), ichidan verbs (<typo lang="ja" syntax="一段[いちだん;h] 動詞[どうし;h]"></typo>), and irregular verbs. Each group follows different rules.

### Conjugating godan verbs to Japanese potential form
Godan verbs are the ones that end in various う-row sounds: う, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る. 

> To make the potential form, you change the final syllable from the う-row to the え-row, then add る.

Let me show you with some examples:

- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) - to write becomes kakeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k2]ける"></typo>) - can write
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) - to read becomes yomeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k2]める"></typo>) - can read
- hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) - to speak becomes hanaseru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k3]せる"></typo>) - can speak
- kiku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="聞[き;h]く"></typo>) - to listen/hear becomes kikeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="聞[き]ける"></typo>) - can listen/hear
- oyogu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ;k2]ぐ"></typo>) - to swim becomes oyogeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ;k3]げる"></typo>) - can swim

### Conjugating ichidan verbs
Ichidan verbs are the ones that end in either eru or iru sounds. These are actually easier to conjugate into potential form. 

> You just drop the final る and add られる.

- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) - to eat becomes taberareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>) - can eat
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) - to see/watch becomes mirareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]られる"></typo>) - can see/watch
- neru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="寝[ね;h]る"></typo>) - to sleep becomes nerareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="寝[ね,ねる;h]られる"></typo>) - can sleep
- oshieru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="教[おし;h]える"></typo>) - to teach becomes oshierareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="教[おし,おしえる;h]えられる"></typo>) - can teach

This られる ending is super important because it shows up in other grammar patterns too, which sometimes confuses learners. The [passive form](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-passive-form-conjugation) uses the same られる ending for ichidan verbs, so context becomes crucial for understanding which meaning is intended.

### Irregular verbs
There are only two irregular verbs in Japanese, and they both have special potential forms you need to memorize.

- suru (する) - to do becomes dekiru (できる) - can do
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) - to come becomes korareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[こ,くる;k1]られる"></typo>) - can come

The suru to dekiru transformation is the one you'll use most often. Dekiru is incredibly common in Japanese conversation because it can express general ability or possibility. When you attach it to noun phrases, you get expressions like "nihongo ga dekiru" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="日本語[にほんご;h] が できる[;k2]"></typo>) meaning "can speak Japanese" or "ryouri ga dekiru" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="料理[りょうり;a] が できる[;k2]"></typo>) meaning "can cook."

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## Negative potential form
To say you can't do something, you conjugate the potential form into its negative version. Since potential verbs are all ichidan verbs (They all end in eru), they follow ichidan conjugation rules for the negative.

> Drop the final る and add ない.

- kakenai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かける;k2]けない"></typo>) - can't write
- yomenai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よめる;k2]めない"></typo>) - can't read
- taberarenai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べられない"></typo>) - can't eat
- mirarenai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]られない"></typo>) - can't see
- dekinai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="でき[,できる;k2]ない"></typo>) - can't do

You'll use the negative potential form all the time when explaining limitations or making excuses (in a totally normal way, not a bad way).

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="すみません[;n4]{、}明日[あした;h] は 行[い,ゆける]けない"></typo>。<br>*Sorry, I can't go tomorrow.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="漢字[かんじ;h] が 読[よ,よめる;k2]めない"></typo>。<br>*I can't read kanji.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="納豆[なっとう;n3] が 食[た,たべる;k2]べられない"></typo>。<br>*I can't eat natto.*

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## Particle usage: が vs を
This is where things get interesting. In regular Japanese sentences, you typically mark the direct object with the particle wo (を). But when you use the potential form, the particle often changes to ga (が).

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="私[わたし;h] は 寿司[すし;o,a] を 食[た;k2]べる"></typo>。<br>*I eat sushi.* (With regular verbs)
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="私[わたし;h] は 寿司[すし;o,a] が 食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>。<br>*I can eat sushi.* (With potential form)

Notice how wo changed to ga? This happens because the potential form technically makes the object into the subject of the ability. You're saying "sushi is edible (to me)" rather than "I eat sushi."

That said, you'll still hear native speakers use wo with potential verbs in casual conversation. Both are grammatically acceptable in modern Japanese, though ga is considered more standard. When you're starting out, stick with ga for potential sentences. It'll sound more natural.

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## Three main functions of the potential form
The potential form does more than just express ability. It actually serves three distinct functions in Japanese grammar.

### Expressing ability
This is the most obvious use. You're talking about skills or capabilities you possess.

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="私[わたし;h] は ピアノ[;h] が 弾[はじ;k3]ける"></typo>。<br>*I can play piano.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="彼女[かのじょ;a] は フランス語[ふらんすご;h] が 話[はな;k3]せる"></typo>。<br>*She can speak French.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="彼[かれ;a] は 漢字[かんじ;h] が 書[か;k2]ける"></typo>。<br>*He can write kanji.*

### Describing situations
The potential form can indicate what's possible in a particular situation or circumstance.

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="ここ[;h] から[;a] 富士山[ふじさん;a] が 見[み;k2]える"></typo>。<br>*You can see Mt. Fuji from here.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="この レストラン[;a] で 寿司[すし;o,a] が 食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>。<br>*You can eat sushi at this restaurant.*

In these sentences, you're not necessarily talking about personal ability. You're describing what the situation allows.

### Indicating attributes
Sometimes the potential form expresses an inherent quality or attribute of something.

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="この 水[みず;h] は 飲[の;k2]める"></typo>。<br>*This water is drinkable.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="この リンゴ[;h] は 食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>。<br>*This apple is edible.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="この 本[ほん;a] は 読[よ;k2]める"></typo>。<br>*This book is readable.*

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## Potential form vs ことができる
Japanese has another way to express ability: using the construction koto ga dekiru (ことができる). This pattern means the exact same thing as the potential form.

- <typo lang="ja" syntax="日本語[にほんご;h] が 話[はな;k3]せる"></typo>。<br>*I can speak Japanese.*
- <typo lang="ja" syntax="日本語[にほんご;h] を 話[はな;k2]す こと[;o] が できる[;k2]"></typo>。<br>*I can speak Japanese.*

Both sentences mean exactly the same thing. The potential form is shorter and more conversational. The koto ga dekiru pattern sounds slightly more formal or deliberate.

In casual conversation, you'll hear the potential form way more often. It's quicker and flows better. But in writing or formal situations, koto ga dekiru shows up more frequently. Some learners actually find koto ga dekiru easier at first because you don't need to conjugate the verb itself, you just attach the pattern to the dictionary form.

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## Common mistakes to avoid when using verb potential form
1. One mistake learners make is overusing the potential form when the regular verb would sound more natural. In English, we say "can you see it?" pretty casually, but in Japanese, asking "mieru?" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k2]える"></typo>?) about whether someone can physically see something is natural, while asking "mirareru?" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]られる"></typo>?) sounds odd because you're asking about their ability to see in general.
2. Another common error is mixing up the particles. Remember that ga works better than wo with potential verbs, even though you might hear wo in casual speech.
3. Some learners also forget that potential verbs conjugate as ichidan verbs for tense and politeness, regardless of what type the original verb was. Even though kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) is godan, kakeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k2]ける"></typo>) follows ichidan conjugation rules.

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## Learning tips on potential form in the Japanese language
1. The conjugation patterns become second nature with practice. You'll start forming potential verbs automatically without thinking through the rules. 
2. Listen for it in Japanese media and you'll notice native speakers using ga with potential verbs all the time.
3. Understanding the three functions (Ability, situation, attribute) helps you recognize the potential form in different contexts. Sometimes it's about what you can do, sometimes it's about what's possible in a situation, and sometimes it's about the inherent qualities of something.
4. If you want to practice recognizing potential forms in real Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up conjugated verbs instantly while watching shows or reading articles. Makes learning grammar patterns way more practical when you see them used naturally. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

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## FAQs
<accordion heading="What is the potential form of iku?">Iku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="行[い;h]く"></typo>) meaning "to go" is a godan verb ending in ku. Following the conjugation rule, ku becomes keru. So the potential form is ikeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="行[い;h]ける"></typo>) meaning "can go."</accordion>
<accordion heading="How to tell the difference between れる and られる?">The endings reru (れる) and rareru (られる) cause confusion because they show up in multiple grammar patterns. Rareru appears in both the potential form and the passive form for ichidan verbs. Reru appears in the passive form for godan verbs. Mirareta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]られた"></typo>) could mean "was able to see" (Potential, past tense) or "was seen" (Passive, past tense).</accordion>

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## Now you can tell people you can speak Japanese
Mastering the potential form opens up a huge range of expression in Japanese. You'll use it when talking about your language learning progress ("I can read katakana now!"), when making plans with friends ("Can you come to karaoke?"), when describing places ("You can see cherry blossoms from this park"), and when explaining what you're capable of doing. Moreover, there are more sentences you can understand when consuming media as well.

> If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_.

Try saying "I can speak Japanese" today!