# Japanese Verb Conjugation: Ultimate Guide on Japanese Conjugation With Tense
> Complete guide to Japanese verb conjugation with this complete guide covering godan, ichidan, plus te-form, masu form, and essential conjugation patterns.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-verb-conjugation-complete-guide
**Last Updated:** 2025-12-29
**Tags:** fundamentals, vocabulary, phrases, grammar
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Here's the thing about [learning Japanese](https://migaku.com/learn-japanese) verbs: they're actually way more approachable than you'd think. Sure, conjugation might sound intimidating at first, but once you understand the patterns, everything clicks into place pretty quickly. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about conjugating Japanese verbs, from the basics to the practical stuff you'll actually use.

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## What is Japanese verb conjugation
Japanese verb conjugation is the system of changing verb endings to express different meanings, tenses, and levels of politeness. Every verb in Japanese can transform into multiple forms by following specific rules based on which verb group it belongs to.

The conjugation system relies heavily on the verb ending and which group the verb belongs to. Once you identify the verb group, you can predict almost every conjugation pattern for that verb.

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## The three types of verbs: Irregular, godan and ichidan
Every Japanese verb falls into one of three categories: 

1. Godan verbs
2. Ichidan verbs
3. Irregular verbs

This classification determines how you'll conjugate them.

### Godan verbs (U-verbs)
Godan (<typo lang="ja" syntax="五[ご;o] 段[だん;a]"></typo>) verbs are also called u-verbs because their dictionary form always ends in one of nine possible u-vowel sounds: u, tsu, ru, ku, gu, bu, mu, nu, or su. The name godan means "five steps," referring to how these verbs move through all five Japanese vowel sounds during conjugation.

Examples of godan verbs:

- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) to write
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) to read
- hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) to speak
- kau (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か;h]う"></typo>) to buy
- matsu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="待[ま;k1]つ"></typo>) to wait

The key thing about godan verbs is that the final syllable changes its vowel sound depending on the conjugation. For kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>), the "ku" part shifts to "ka," "ki," "ke," or "ko" depending on what form you need.

### Ichidan verbs (Ru-verbs)
Ichidan (<typo lang="ja" syntax="一段[いちだん;h]"></typo>) verbs are simpler. The name means "one step" because these verbs only use one vowel row for conjugation. These verbs always end in either -eru or -iru in their dictionary form, and you conjugate them by dropping the final ru and adding different endings.

Examples of ichidan verbs:

- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) to eat
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) to see/watch
- neru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="寝[ね;h]る"></typo>) to sleep
- okiru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="起[お;k2]きる"></typo>) to wake up
- oshieru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="教[おし;h]える"></typo>) to teach

Here's where it gets tricky: some verbs that end in -eru or -iru are actually godan verbs, like hairu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="入[はい;k1]る"></typo>) to enter or kaeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="帰[かえ;k1]る"></typo>) to return home. You'll need to memorize which group these belong to, but honestly, you pick it up naturally through exposure.

### Irregular verbs
Japanese only has two truly irregular verbs: suru (する) to do and kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) to come. That's it. Pretty manageable compared to languages like English or French with dozens of irregular verbs.

These two verbs have unique conjugation patterns that don't follow godan or ichidan rules. You just memorize their forms separately.

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## Dictionary form and Japanese verbs stem
The dictionary form is the base form of any Japanese verb, the version you'd find in a dictionary. It's also called the plain form or casual present affirmative tense. 

For example, taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>), kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>), and suru (する) are all dictionary forms.

The verb stem is the part that remains after you remove the conjugating ending. 

1. For ichidan verbs, the stem is everything before the final ru. For taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>), the stem is tabe. 
2. For godan verbs, you typically change the final u-sound to an i-sound to get the stem. For kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>), the stem is kaki.

Understanding the stem matters because many conjugations build directly from it.

---
## Masu form (Polite form in Japanese conjugation)
The masu (ます) form is your go-to [polite form](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-desu-masu-form) for everyday conversation. You'll use this when talking to people you don't know well, in professional settings, or when you want to sound respectful.

**For ichidan verbs**, drop the ru and add masu:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes tabemasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べます"></typo>)
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) becomes mimasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]ます"></typo>)

**For godan verbs**, change the final u-vowel to an i-vowel and add masu:
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kakimasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]きます"></typo>)
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yomimasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]みます"></typo>)
- hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) becomes hanashimasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな,はなす;k2]します"></typo>)

**For irregular verbs**:
- suru (する) becomes shimasu (します)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes kimasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[き,くる;k1]ます"></typo>)

The masu form itself can conjugate further for [negative](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-negation) (masen), past tense (mashita), and negative past (masen deshita).

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## Past tense conjugation
Japanese has two main past tense forms: the plain past and the polite past.

### Plain past tense (ta-form)
**For ichidan verbs**, drop ru and add ta:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes tabeta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べた"></typo>)
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) becomes mita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]た"></typo>)

**For godan verbs**, the conjugation pattern depends on the final sound. This is where things get a bit more complex:

- Verbs ending in u, tsu, ru become tta: kau (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か;h]う"></typo>) becomes katta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か,かう;h]った"></typo>), matsu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="待[ま;k1]つ"></typo>) becomes matta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="待[ま,まつ;k1]った"></typo>)
- Verbs ending in ku become ita: kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kaita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]いた"></typo>)
- Verbs ending in gu become ida: oyogu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ;k2]ぐ"></typo>) becomes oyoida (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ,およぐ;k2]い だ"></typo>)
- Verbs ending in bu, mu, nu become nda: yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yonda (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]ん だ"></typo>)
- Verbs ending in su become shita: hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) becomes hanashita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな,はなす;k2]した"></typo>)

**For irregular verbs**:
- suru (する) becomes shita (した)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes kita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[き,くる;k1]た"></typo>)

### Polite past tense
Just add mashita to the verb stem:
- tabemashita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べました"></typo>) ate
- kakimashita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]きました"></typo>) wrote
- shimashita (しました) did

---
## Te-form conjugation
The te-form is one of the most versatile conjugations you'll learn. It connects clauses, creates continuous tenses, makes requests, and serves as the base for several other forms.

How do you conjugate a verb into te form? The pattern is almost identical to the past tense, except you use te/de instead of ta/da.

**For ichidan verbs:**
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes tabete (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて"></typo>)
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) becomes mite (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]て"></typo>)

**For godan verbs:**
- kau (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か;h]う"></typo>) becomes katte (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か,かう;h]って"></typo>)
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kaite (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]いて"></typo>)
- oyogu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ;k2]ぐ"></typo>) becomes oyoide (<typo lang="ja" syntax="泳[およ,およぐ;k2]いで"></typo>)
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yonde (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]んで"></typo>)
- hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) becomes hanashite (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな,はなす;k2]して"></typo>)

**For irregular verbs:**
- suru (する) becomes shite (して)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes kite (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[き,くる;k1]て"></typo>)

The te-form lets you say things like "tabete kudasai" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて ください[,くださる;k3]"></typo>) please eat, or create the progressive tense by adding iru (いる): "tabete iru" (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて いる[;h]"></typo>) is eating.

---
## Negative Conjugation
Negative forms express what someone doesn't do or didn't do.

### Plain negative (nai-form)
**For ichidan verbs**, drop ru and add nai:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes tabenai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べない"></typo>)

**For godan verbs**, change the final u-vowel to an a-vowel and add nai:
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kakanai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]かない"></typo>)
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yomanai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]まない"></typo>)

Exception: verbs ending in u like kau (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か;h]う"></typo>) become kawanai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="買[か,かう;h]わない"></typo>), not kauanai.

**For irregular verbs**:
- suru (する) becomes shinai (しない)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes konai (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[こ,くる;k1]ない"></typo>)

### Polite negative
Add masen to the verb stem:
- tabemasen (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べません"></typo>) doesn't eat
- kakimasen (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]きません"></typo>) doesn't write

### Negative past
The plain form is nakatta:
- tabenakatta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べなかった"></typo>) didn't eat
- kakanakatta (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]かなかった"></typo>) didn't write

The polite form is masen deshita:
- tabemasen deshita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べません でし[,でし;a]た"></typo>)
- kakimasen deshita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]きません でし[,でし;a]た"></typo>)

---
## Potential form
The potential form expresses ability or possibility, like "can do" in English.

**For ichidan verbs:**
Drop ru and add rareru:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) 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>) becomes mirareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]られる"></typo>) can see

Many speakers use the shortened られる form, dropping the ra: tabereru, mireru. You'll hear both.

**For godan verbs:**
Change the final u-vowel to an e-vowel and add ru:
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kakeru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k2]ける"></typo>) can write
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) 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>) becomes hanaseru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k3]せる"></typo>) can speak

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

---
## Passive form
The passive form indicates that the subject receives the action rather than performs it.

**For ichidan verbs:**
Drop ru and add rareru:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes taberareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べられる"></typo>) to be eaten

**For godan verbs:**
Change the final u-vowel to an a-vowel and add reru:
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kakareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]かれる"></typo>) to be written
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yomareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]まれる"></typo>) to be read

**For irregular verbs:**
- suru (する) becomes sareru (される)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes korareru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[こ,くる;k1]られる"></typo>)

---
## [Volitional form](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-verb-volitional-form)
The volitional form expresses intention or suggestion, like "let's do" or "I will do."

**For ichidan verbs:**
Drop ru and add you:
- taberu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た;k2]べる"></typo>) becomes tabeyou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べよう"></typo>) let's eat
- miru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;k1]る"></typo>) becomes miyou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み,みる;k1]よう"></typo>) let's watch

**For godan verbs:**
Change the final u-vowel to an o-vowel and add u:
- kaku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か;k1]く"></typo>) becomes kakou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]こう"></typo>) let's write
- yomu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ;k1]む"></typo>) becomes yomou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]もう"></typo>) let's read
- hanasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな;k2]す"></typo>) becomes hanasou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="話[はな,はなす;k2]そう"></typo>) let's speak

**For irregular verbs:**
- suru (する) becomes shiyou (しよう)
- kuru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[く;k1]る"></typo>) becomes koyou (<typo lang="ja" syntax="来[こ,くる;k1]よう"></typo>)

---
## Auxiliary verbs in conjugation
Auxiliary verbs attach to main verbs to add extra meaning. The te-form often combines with auxiliary verbs to create new expressions.

Common auxiliary verbs include:

- iru (いる) after te-form creates progressive tense: tabete iru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて いる[;h]"></typo>) is eating
- aru (ある) after te-form shows completed state: kaite aru (<typo lang="ja" syntax="書[か,かく;k1]いて ある[;k1]"></typo>) is written
- oku (おく) after te-form means doing something in advance: yonde oku (<typo lang="ja" syntax="読[よ,よむ;k1]んで おく[;h]"></typo>) read in advance
- shimau (しまう) after te-form shows completion: tabete shimau (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて しまう"></typo>) finish eating

These auxiliary verbs themselves conjugate normally, so you can say tabete imasu (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて い[,いる;h]ます"></typo>) for polite progressive or tabete ita (<typo lang="ja" syntax="食[た,たべる;k2]べて い[,いる;h]た"></typo>) for past progressive.

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## Learning resources and practice
Want sites that break down conjugation into manageable pieces? There are some solid resources out there.

1. [Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar](https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/category/grammar-guide/) offers clear explanations of each verb form with plenty of examples. The site breaks conjugation down systematically without overwhelming you.
2. [JapaneseVerbConjugator.com](https://japaneseverbconjugator.com/) lets you type any verb and see all its conjugations instantly. Super useful for checking your work.
3. [Imabi](https://imabi.org/) provides detailed grammatical explanations if you want to go deep into the linguistic side of things.
4. Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up verbs instantly while watching shows or reading articles. You can see conjugations in context and save examples directly to your flashcards. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

<img src="https://migaku-cms-assets.migaku.com/3_screens_purple_5_3fb4aae664/3_screens_purple_5_3fb4aae664.png" width="1620" height="1000" alt="Adapt to verb conjugations with Migaku" />

<prose-button href="/learn-japanese" text="Learn Japanese with Migaku"></prose-button>

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## Conquering the common verb conjugations is worth celebration!
Master the basic patterns for dictionary form, masu form, te-form, past tense, and negative forms, and you'll have the foundation for most everyday Japanese. From there, you can build up to potential, passive, volitional, and causative forms as you progress.

The key is consistent practice with real content. Conjugation tables help you understand the patterns, but actually reading and listening to Japanese is what makes it stick.

> 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_.

Consistent hard work leads to success!