Top 50 Most Common Japanese Verbs
Master Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Daily Communication
Table of Contents
1. Why Learn Common Verbs?
These 50 verbs form the backbone of Japanese conversation
Master these and you’ll understand 80% of everyday Japanese
The Power of Common Verbs
Frequency Foundation: These verbs appear in most daily conversations
Building Blocks: Essential for constructing meaningful sentences
Cultural Understanding: Each verb carries cultural nuances and contexts
Communication Confidence: Know these to express most basic needs and ideas
Learning Efficiency: Focus on high-impact vocabulary first
2. Verb Groups Overview
Japanese Verb Classification
Group 1 (五段動詞)
End in various sounds: -ku, -gu, -su, -tsu, -nu, -bu, -mu, -ru
Group 2 (一段動詞)
End in -eru or -iru, drop る for conjugation
Group 3 (不規則動詞)
する (suru) and 来る (kuru) – memorize patterns
Recognition Patterns
| Group | Pattern | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Consonant + u sound | 飲む (のむ) | to drink |
| Group 2 | Vowel + ru | 食べる (たべる) | to eat |
| Group 3 | Irregular | する | to do |
3. Top 10 Most Essential Verbs
The Core 10 – Master These First
Group: Irregular
Usage: Most versatile verb in Japanese
Group: 1
Usage: Essential for movement and plans
Group: Irregular
Usage: Movement toward speaker
Group: 2
Usage: Daily necessity
Group: 1
Usage: Beverages and medicine
Group: 2
Usage: Visual perception
Group: 2
Usage: Location of people/animals
Group: 1
Usage: Location of things
Group: 1
Usage: Basic communication
Group: 1
Usage: Expressing opinions
Essential Daily Examples:
今日は映画を見ます。
学校に行きます。
4. Movement & Action Verbs
Essential Movement Verbs
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 帰る | かえる | kaeru | to return | 1 |
| 入る | はいる | hairu | to enter | 1 |
| 出る | でる | deru | to exit/leave | 2 |
| 立つ | たつ | tatsu | to stand | 1 |
| 座る | すわる | suwaru | to sit | 1 |
| 歩く | あるく | aruku | to walk | 1 |
| 走る | はしる | hashiru | to run | 1 |
| 止まる | とまる | tomaru | to stop | 1 |
Movement in Context
Daily Commute:
駅まで歩いて、電車に乗ります。
At Home:
家に帰って、椅子に座ります。
5. Daily Life Verbs
Everyday Activities
Group: 2
Group: 2
Group: 1
Group: Irregular
Group: 1
Group: 1
Daily Routine Verbs
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洗う | あらう | arau | to wash | 手を洗う (wash hands) |
| 着る | きる | kiru | to wear | 服を着る (wear clothes) |
| 脱ぐ | ぬぐ | nugu | to take off | 靴を脱ぐ (take off shoes) |
| 読む | よむ | yomu | to read | 本を読む (read a book) |
| 書く | かく | kaku | to write | 手紙を書く (write a letter) |
Daily Life Context
Morning Routine: 起きる → 洗う → 着る → 食べる → 行く
Work/Study: 働く / 勉強する → 読む → 書く → 作る
Evening: 帰る → 食べる → 見る → 寝る
Weekend: 買う → 作る → 読む → 遊ぶ
6. Communication Verbs
Essential Communication
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 話す | はなす | hanasu | to speak/talk | General conversation |
| 聞く | きく | kiku | to listen/hear | 音楽を聞く (listen to music) |
| 教える | おしえる | oshieru | to teach | Knowledge transfer |
| 習う | ならう | narau | to learn | 日本語を習う (learn Japanese) |
| 答える | こたえる | kotaeru | to answer | 質問に答える (answer questions) |
| 質問する | しつもんする | shitsumon suru | to ask a question | Formal questioning |
Communication Examples
Learning Context:
先生は日本語を教えます。学生は日本語を習います。
Daily Conversation:
友達と日本語で話します。
7. Mental State & Emotions
Thoughts and Feelings
Group: 1
Group: 1
Group: 2
Group: 2
Note: Actually an adjective
Note: Actually an adjective
8. Complete Top 50 List
All 50 Essential Verbs
| # | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | する | する | suru | to do | 3 |
| 2 | 行く | いく | iku | to go | 1 |
| 3 | 来る | くる | kuru | to come | 3 |
| 4 | 食べる | たべる | taberu | to eat | 2 |
| 5 | 飲む | のむ | nomu | to drink | 1 |
| 6 | 見る | みる | miru | to see/watch | 2 |
| 7 | いる | いる | iru | to exist (animate) | 2 |
| 8 | ある | ある | aru | to exist (inanimate) | 1 |
| 9 | 言う | いう | iu | to say | 1 |
| 10 | 思う | おもう | omou | to think | 1 |
| 11 | 帰る | かえる | kaeru | to return | 1 |
| 12 | 買う | かう | kau | to buy | 1 |
| 13 | 読む | よむ | yomu | to read | 1 |
| 14 | 書く | かく | kaku | to write | 1 |
| 15 | 話す | はなす | hanasu | to speak | 1 |
| 16 | 聞く | きく | kiku | to listen/ask | 1 |
| 17 | 働く | はたらく | hataraku | to work | 1 |
| 18 | 勉強する | べんきょうする | benkyou suru | to study | 3 |
| 19 | 起きる | おきる | okiru | to wake up | 2 |
| 20 | 寝る | ねる | neru | to sleep | 2 |
| 21 | 入る | はいる | hairu | to enter | 1 |
| 22 | 出る | でる | deru | to exit | 2 |
| 23 | 立つ | たつ | tatsu | to stand | 1 |
| 24 | 座る | すわる | suwaru | to sit | 1 |
| 25 | 歩く | あるく | aruku | to walk | 1 |
| 26 | 走る | はしる | hashiru | to run | 1 |
| 27 | 知る | しる | shiru | to know | 1 |
| 28 | 分かる | わかる | wakaru | to understand | 1 |
| 29 | 教える | おしえる | oshieru | to teach | 2 |
| 30 | 習う | ならう | narau | to learn | 1 |
| 31 | 作る | つくる | tsukuru | to make | 1 |
| 32 | 使う | つかう | tsukau | to use | 1 |
| 33 | 洗う | あらう | arau | to wash | 1 |
| 34 | 着る | きる | kiru | to wear | 2 |
| 35 | 脱ぐ | ぬぐ | nugu | to take off | 1 |
| 36 | 開ける | あける | akeru | to open | 2 |
| 37 | 閉める | しめる | shimeru | to close | 2 |
| 38 | 借りる | かりる | kariru | to borrow | 2 |
| 39 | 貸す | かす | kasu | to lend | 1 |
| 40 | 会う | あう | au | to meet | 1 |
| 41 | 待つ | まつ | matsu | to wait | 1 |
| 42 | 覚える | おぼえる | oboeru | to remember | 2 |
| 43 | 忘れる | わすれる | wasureru | to forget | 2 |
| 44 | 止まる | とまる | tomaru | to stop | 1 |
| 45 | 始まる | はじまる | hajimaru | to begin | 1 |
| 46 | 終わる | おわる | owaru | to end | 1 |
| 47 | 遊ぶ | あそぶ | asobu | to play | 1 |
| 48 | 休む | やすむ | yasumu | to rest | 1 |
| 49 | 泳ぐ | およぐ | oyogu | to swim | 1 |
| 50 | 死ぬ | しぬ | shinu | to die | 1 |
9. Common Usage Patterns
Everyday Sentence Patterns
Daily Activities:
朝起きて、コーヒーを飲んで、仕事に行きます。
Weekend Plans:
土曜日は友達と会って、映画を見ます。
Verb Combination Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| て-form + います | 勉強しています | べんきょうしています | I am studying |
| Past tense | 行きました | いきました | I went |
| Negative | 食べません | たべません | I don’t eat |
| Can/Able to | 読めます | よめます | I can read |
Usage Tips
Frequency Order: Learn the top 10 first, then expand gradually
Context Matters: Same verb can have different nuances in different situations
Conjugation Practice: Focus on present, past, and negative forms initially
Daily Integration: Try to use 3-5 new verbs in daily practice
10. Practice & Applications
Weekly Study Plan
Week 1 – Essential 10:
する、行く、来る、食べる、飲む、見る、いる、ある、言う、思う
Practice daily activities and basic expressions
Week 2 – Movement & Daily Life:
帰る、買う、読む、書く、働く、勉強する、起きる、寝る、入る、出る
Build daily routine vocabulary
Week 3 – Communication & Actions:
話す、聞く、教える、習う、立つ、座る、歩く、走る、知る、分かる
Enhance conversation skills
Daily Practice Exercises
| Exercise Type | Task | Example | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily diary | Write daily activities using 5 verbs | 今日は本を読みました | Practical application |
| Conversation | Use 10 different verbs in conversation | 映画を見に行きますか | Natural usage |
| Conjugation drill | Practice all tenses of 5 verbs daily | 食べる→食べます→食べました | Grammar accuracy |
| Situational practice | Role-play common situations | レストランで注文する | Real-world application |
Mastery Milestones
Beginner (1-2 months): Recognize and use top 20 verbs in basic sentences
Intermediate (3-4 months): Confidently use 40 verbs with proper conjugations
Advanced (5-6 months): Master all 50 verbs in natural conversation
Expert (ongoing): Combine verbs naturally with complex grammar patterns
Real-World Applications
Travel Scenarios:
ホテルに行って、チェックインして、部屋で休みます。
Business Context:
会議で話して、資料を作って、メールを書きます。
Japanese Verb Mastery Achieved!
You now have the 50 most essential Japanese verbs at your fingertips! These form the foundation of natural Japanese communication and will serve you in countless daily situations.
Top 50 Most Common Japanese Verbs
Complete Learning Guide with Conjugations, Usage & Practice
学習ガイド – Learning Guide Contents
1. Overview & Importance
Why These 50 Verbs Matter
These 50 verbs represent 95% of all verb usage in daily Japanese conversation
Master these and you’ll understand the backbone of Japanese communication!
Foundation of Japanese Communication
Frequency Power: These verbs appear in almost every Japanese sentence
Practical Application: Essential for daily conversation, business, and media
Learning Efficiency: Maximum impact for your study time investment
Cultural Gateway: Understanding these verbs opens Japanese culture and thinking patterns
Group 1: 五段動詞 (Godan Verbs)
Most common type. End in -u sounds and follow regular conjugation patterns.
Group 2: 一段動詞 (Ichidan Verbs)
End in -eru or -iru. Simply drop る and add conjugation endings.
Group 3: 不規則動詞 (Irregular Verbs)
Only する and 来る. Must memorize their unique conjugations.
2. Verb Classification System
Understanding the Three Groups
| Group | Japanese Name | Ending Pattern | Examples | Conjugation Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 五段動詞 | -u sounds (く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る, う) | 書く, 読む, 立つ | Change u → i + ending |
| Group 2 | 一段動詞 | -eru, -iru | 食べる, 見る, 起きる | Drop る + ending |
| Group 3 | 不規則動詞 | する, 来る | 勉強する, 来る | Irregular patterns |
Important Note: Exceptions Exist!
Some verbs ending in -eru/-iru are actually Group 1: 入る (hairu), 切る (kiru), 知る (shiru), etc.
Always verify the group when learning a new verb!
3. Top 10 Most Essential Verbs
The Absolute Essentials
These 10 verbs appear in over 60% of all Japanese conversations
Most versatile verb – forms hundreds of compound verbs
Essential for describing existence and location
Used for people and animals being somewhere
Essential for reported speech and communication
Basic movement verb, used constantly in daily life
Irregular but essential – appears in many compounds
Used for seeing, watching, looking at
Essential for describing leaving or exiting
For expressing thoughts and opinions
Essential for expressing knowledge and awareness
4. Complete List of 50 Essential Verbs
5. Conjugation Patterns
Present/Future Forms
| Group | Dictionary Form | Present Polite | Present Casual | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 読む | 読みます | 読む | I read / will read |
| Group 2 | 食べる | 食べます | 食べる | I eat / will eat |
| Group 3 | する | します | する | I do / will do |
Past Forms
| Group | Past Polite | Past Casual | Past Negative Polite | Past Negative Casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 読みました | 読んだ | 読みませんでした | 読まなかった |
| Group 2 | 食べました | 食べた | 食べませんでした | 食べなかった |
| Group 3 | しました | した | しませんでした | しなかった |
Te-form (て形) – The Most Important Form
The te-form is crucial for:
- Continuous actions: 食べています (eating / am eating)
- Requests: 食べてください (please eat)
- Connecting actions: 食べて寝る (eat and sleep)
- Permission: 食べてもいい (may eat)
6. Usage in Context
Daily Life Scenarios
Morning Routine:
毎朝七時に起きて、朝ご飯を食べます。
I wake up at 7 AM every morning and eat breakfast.
Work/School:
電車で会社に行きます。九時から働きます。
I go to work by train. I work from 9 AM.
Evening Activities:
家に帰って、テレビを見ます。十一時に寝ます。
I return home and watch TV. I sleep at 11 PM.
Conversation Patterns
| Situation | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plans | 明日映画を見に行きます | Ashita eiga o mi ni ikimasu | I’m going to see a movie tomorrow |
| Habits | 毎日日本語を勉強します | Mainichi nihongo o benkyou shimasu | I study Japanese every day |
| Experiences | 昨日友達と会いました | Kinou tomodachi to aimashita | I met with a friend yesterday |
| Abilities | 日本語が話せます | Nihongo ga hanasemasu | I can speak Japanese |
7. Cultural Usage Notes
Formality Levels Matter
Business/Formal: Always use ます form with colleagues, customers, teachers
Casual: Dictionary form with close friends and family only
Regional Variations: Some verbs have regional alternatives (Kansai vs Kanto)
Age Considerations: Older generations expect more formal speech
Keigo (Honorific Language) with Common Verbs
| Regular Form | Humble Form | Honorific Form | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行く (iku) | 参る (mairu) | いらっしゃる (irassharu) | Going somewhere |
| 来る (kuru) | 参る (mairu) | いらっしゃる (irassharu) | Coming somewhere |
| いる (iru) | おる (oru) | いらっしゃる (irassharu) | Being somewhere |
| 食べる (taberu) | いただく (itadaku) | 召し上がる (meshiagaru) | Eating |
Common Cultural Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t use casual forms with: Teachers, bosses, customers, strangers, elderly people
Don’t overuse keigo: It can sound stiff with friends and equals
Be consistent: Don’t mix formal and casual in the same conversation
8. Practice & Mastery
Progressive Learning Path
Stage 1: Recognition (Week 1-2)
- Learn the top 10 verbs and their basic meanings
- Practice identifying verb groups
- Memorize dictionary forms
Stage 2: Basic Conjugation (Week 3-4)
- Master present tense polite forms (ます form)
- Practice past tense conjugations
- Learn negative forms
Stage 3: Practical Usage (Week 5-6)
- Use verbs in complete sentences
- Practice daily routine descriptions
- Learn te-form constructions
Stage 4: Advanced Applications (Week 7-8)
- Master all 50 verbs in context
- Practice formal and casual switching
- Learn compound verb patterns
Study Tips for Maximum Retention
Daily Practice: Use 5-10 verbs in sentences every day
Context Learning: Always learn verbs with example sentences
Spaced Repetition: Review older verbs while learning new ones
Real Application: Use these verbs in conversations with native speakers
Pattern Recognition: Focus on conjugation patterns, not memorization
Mastery Checklist
✓ Can identify all verb groups instantly
✓ Know all 50 verbs’ meanings and readings
✓ Can conjugate into present, past, negative forms
✓ Understand when to use formal vs casual
✓ Can use verbs naturally in conversation
🎉 Congratulations on Your Journey!
You now have the foundation for mastering Japanese verbs!
Japanese Verbs Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of the Most Common Japanese Verbs
Exercise 1: Most Essential Verb
Which is considered the most versatile verb in Japanese?
Explanation: する is the most versatile verb in Japanese, used in countless compounds and expressions.
Exercise 2: Verb Groups
What group does 飲む (nomu) belong to?
Explanation: 飲む ends with -mu sound and follows Group 1 conjugation patterns.
Exercise 3: Basic Meanings
What does 見る (miru) mean?
Explanation: 見る (miru) means to see or watch, used for visual perception and activities like watching TV or movies.
Exercise 4: Existence Verbs
Which verb is used for the existence of inanimate objects?
Explanation: ある is used for inanimate objects, while いる is for people and animals.
Exercise 5: Daily Activities
What does 起きる (okiru) mean?
Explanation: 起きる (okiru) means to wake up, an essential verb for describing daily routines.
Exercise 6: Movement Verbs
Which verb means “to return home”?
Explanation: 帰る specifically means to return to one’s home or base location.
Exercise 7: Group 2 Recognition
Which of these is a Group 2 verb?
Explanation: 食べる ends in -eru and is a Group 2 verb (drop る, add ます).
Exercise 8: Communication Verbs
What does 聞く (kiku) mean?
Explanation: 聞く has dual meanings: to listen (音楽を聞く) and to ask questions.
Exercise 9: Learning Context
Which verb means “to teach”?
Explanation: 教える means to teach, while 習う means to learn from someone.
Exercise 10: Irregular Verb
What is the polite form of 来る (kuru)?
Explanation: 来る is irregular – it changes to 来ます (kimasu) in polite form.
Exercise 11: Mental State
What does 分かる (wakaru) mean?
Explanation: 分かる means to understand or comprehend something.
Exercise 12: Daily Necessities
Which verb is essential for describing clothing?
Explanation: 着る means “to wear” and is essential for describing clothing and getting dressed.
Exercise 13: Action vs State
Which pair shows opposite actions?
Explanation: 立つ (to stand) and 座る (to sit) are direct opposites of physical position.
Exercise 14: Work Context
What does 働く (hataraku) mean?
Explanation: 働く (hataraku) means to work or labor, essential for professional contexts.
Exercise 15: Frequency in Speech
Which verb appears most frequently in Japanese conversation after する?
Explanation: 行く is extremely common as it’s used for all movement and future plans.
Exercise 16: Study Activities
What compound verb means “to study”?
Explanation: 勉強する is the standard way to say “to study” in Japanese.
Exercise 17: Understanding vs Knowing
Which verb means “to know information”?
Explanation: 知る means to know facts/information, while 分かる means to understand.
Exercise 18: Physical Actions
What does 歩く (aruku) mean?
Explanation: 歩く (aruku) means to walk, a fundamental movement verb.
Exercise 19: Time-Related Actions
Which verb means “to wait”?
Explanation: 待つ means to wait for someone or something.
Exercise 20: Essential Daily Verb
Which is the most essential verb for sleep?
Explanation: 寝る specifically means to sleep/go to bed, while 休む means to rest.
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