HOMEPAGE JAPAN Japanese Lessons

Japanese Verbs

-U verbs

-U verbs are verbs where the dictionary form ends in -u. The dictionary form (e.g., NORU ends in -su, -ku, -gu, -bu, -mu, -nu, -ru, OR -u.

Only some verbs ending in -ru are -u verbs.

  • If the -masu form is the root plus -rimasu, it is a -u verb.
  • If the -masu form is the root plus -masu, it is a -ru verb.
     

    Click on the picture below to see the Quick and Dirty Guide to Japanese Grammar for more detail.)

    QUICK AND DIRTY GUIDE
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    KANJI -masu form dictionary form -te form Eigo
    KE SHI MA SU KE SU KE SHITE to wipe out / turn off / extinguish
    O KI MASU O KU O I TE to put, place
    to leave as it is
    A RU KI MASU A RU KU A RU I TE to walk
    o yo gi MA SU o yo gu A yo i de to swim
    yo bi maSU yo bu yo n de to call
    SU MI MA SU to dwell 
    SI NI MA SU si nu si n de to die
    To RI MASU To RU To t TE to take
    (a photograph)
    TU KU RI MASU TU KU RU TU KU t TE to make/build, 
    to produce (food), 
    to grow (plants)
    URIMA SU URU UtTE to sell
    SUWARIMASU SUWARU SUWAtTE to sit 
    to get to know
    NORIMASU NORU NOtTE to ride, get on
    TACHIMASU TATU TAtTE to stand,
    to be built
    MOCHIMASU to hold
    TSUKAIMASU TSUKAU TSUKAtTE to use (a  machine)
    to employ (person)
    to spend (money)
    tTE to smoke, suck

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