First 50 Japanese Verbs to Learn and Their Conjugation Groups

Just like in other languages, Japanese has many verbs, but the number of verbs frequently used in daily conversation is limited. By learning some essential verbs, you’ll be able to navigate a wide range of everyday situations. In this guide, we’ll introduce 50 must-know verbs for beginners, organised by their conjugation groups.

Download 50 essential verb lists in PDF.

Dictionary Form and Masu Form

Japanese verbs have several conjugation forms, but most learners start by learning the “dictionary form” or the “masu form.” Both represent the basic present tense, but the dictionary form is used in casual conversations and in dictionaries, while the masu form is used to express politeness. For example, “食べる (taberu)” in dictionary form becomes “食べます (tabemasu)” in masu form—both mean “to eat,” but the masu form adds a level of formality.

There’s no single correct answer for which form to learn first, but the dictionary form is often easier for beginners. Since it’s the same form you’ll find in dictionaries, learning it first can help you understand other verb conjugations later. So, we’ll list essential verbs in the dictionary form and show you how to change them into the masu form.

Essential Japanese Verbs and Conjugation Groups

Japanese verbs fall into three major groups.

1. RU-Verbs

RU-verbs are easy to recognise because they end in “RU” in their dictionary form. To change them into masu form, you simply replace “る” with “ます.” 

Example: 食べる (taberu) → 食べます (tabemasu) – to eat

2. U-Verbs

U-verbs end with a “U” sound in their dictionary form. To convert them into masu form, you change the final vowel from “U” to “I” and add “ます.” These can feel a bit tricky at first compared to RU-verbs. 

Example: 書く (kaku) → 書きます (kakimasu) – to write

Watch out for exceptions!

Some U-verbs look like RU-verbs because they end in “RU,” but they conjugate as U-verbs. These exceptions need special attention. 

3. Irregular Verbs

Good news! There are only two irregular verbs in Japanese! These verbs don’t follow the usual conjugation rules, so you’ll need to memorise them. 

The versatility of “する” verbs

By adding “する” to a noun, you can create verbs for many actions, making it a very useful verb. These verbs are conjugated in the same way as the irregular verb “する”.

Tricky Japanese Verbs 

There are a few verbs in Japanese that can easily confuse beginners.

「いる」 and「ある」

“いる” is used for living things, while “ある” is used for non-living things. There’s also another verb “要る (いる)” that means “to need,” even though it sounds the same.

Example:

• 女の子がいる – There is a girl.
• りんごがある – There is an apple.

すき and きらい

In English, “like” and “hate” are verbs, but in Japanese, “すき” (suki) and “きらい” (kirai) are adjectives.

切る (きる) vs. 着る (きる)

“切る (きる)” meaning “to cut” and “着る (きる)” meaning “to wear” have the same pronunciation in dictionary form, but “切る (きる)” is U-verb while “着る (きる)” is RU-verb

Example:

• りんごをきります – I cut apples.
• シャツをきます – I wear a shirt.

Learning Japanese verbs and their conjugation can be a challenge for learners, but once you understand the basics and the different conjugation groups, you’ll be able to use these verbs effectively in daily conversations. By learning the 50 essential verbs introduced here, you’ll be well on your way to holding simple conversations in Japanese!

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