Common Japanese Verbs MASTER LIST

*This post contains affiliate links. Learn more here*

こんにちは、everyone! Welcome back to Teach Me Japanese.

It's hard to express yourself in a language without using verbs, so in this lesson we are going to be providing you with a master list of the most commonly used Japanese verbs(about 320).

These are just verbs that I find my self using in daily, conversational Japanese here in Japan. Depending on your situation or job, etc., you may not use some of these often, or you may use verbs not included on this list. Either way, these verbs are really important to know if you want to attain conversational fluency and literacy in Japanese.

All of the verbs are going to be listed in plain, or dictionary form. If you want to know how to conjugate verbs into their polite (masu) form, check out our lesson here

Let's get started, shall we?

---

MOST COMMON VERBS:

• u-verbs

会う（あう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to meet

合う（あう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to come together; to suit

開く（あく）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be opened

開く（ひらく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to open; to hold(a meeting)

上がる（あがる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to rise; go up

遊ぶ（あそぶ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to play

味わう（あじわう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to taste

当たる（あたる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to strike; to touch

集まる（あつまる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to gather; assemble

浴びる（あびる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to take a shower

余る（あまる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to remain; be left over

洗う（あらう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to wash

歩く（あるく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to walk

言う（いう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to say

行く（いく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to go

急ぐ（いそぐ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to hurry

要る（いる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to exist; be present

祝う（いわう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to celebrate

動かす（うごかす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to move (something)

動く（うごく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to move

失う（うしなう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to lose (something

歌う（うたう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to sing

打つ（うつ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to hit; strike

写る（うつる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be photographed; projected

売る（うる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to sell

選ぶ（えらぶ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to choose

追う（おう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to follow; chase

おく --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to place

送る（おくる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to send

行う（おこなう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to carry out (a task); perform

起こる（おこる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to occur; happen

怒る（おこる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to become angry

奢る（おごる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to treat (someone) 押す（おす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to push

落ち込む（おちこむ）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to feel down/sad

落ち着く（おちつく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to calm down

落とす（おとす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to drop

思う（おもう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to think

泳ぐ（およぐ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to swim

折る（おる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to break; fold

終わる（おわる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to be over; end

買う（かう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to buy

返す（かえす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to return (something)

帰る（かえる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to return (i.e home)

飼う（かう）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to keep (a pet)

かかる ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take (i.e. time, money)

輝く（かがやく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to shine; sparkle

書く（かく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to write

描く（かく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to draw

隠す（かくす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to hide (something)

嗅ぐ（かぐ）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to smell

囲む（かこむ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to surround

飾る（かざる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to decorate

貸す（かす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to lend

傾く（かたむく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to lean

勝つ（かつ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to win

悲しむ（かなしむ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be sad

被る（かぶる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to put on; wear (i.e. a hat)

噛む（かむ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to bite

乾かす（かわかす）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to dry

乾く（かわく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to be dry

変わる（かわる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be changed

頑張る（がんばる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to work hard; do your best

聞く（きく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to listen; to ask

傷つく（きずづく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be hurt

決まる（きまる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be decided

切る（きる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cut

食う（くう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to eat (masculine)

配る（くばる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to distribute; hand out

曇る（くもる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to become cloudy

暮らす（くらす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to live

苦しむ（くるしむ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to suffer

消す（けす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to erase

凍る（こおる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to freeze

困る（こまる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to be troubled

混む（こむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be crowded

殺す（ころす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to kill

壊す（こわす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to break; destroy

探す（さがす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to search

下がる（さがる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to get lower

咲く（さく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to bloom

指す（さす） ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to point

刺す（さす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pierce; stab

覚ます（さます）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to wake up

触る（さわる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to touch

死ぬ（しぬ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to die

縛る（しばる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to tie

閉まる（しまる）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be closed

知る（しる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to know

喋る（しゃべる）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to chat

吸う（すう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to inhale; smoke

進む（すすむ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to advance

住む（すむ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to live; reside

座る（すわる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to sit

注ぐ（そそぐ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pour

育つ（そだつ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to raise

炊く（たく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cook (i.e. rice)

足す（たす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to add

戦う（たたかう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to battle; make war

叩く（たたく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to hit; strike; tap

畳む（たたむ）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fold (i.e. clothes)

立つ（たつ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to stand

頼む（たのむ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to request; beg

出す（だす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take out; submit

違う（ちがう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to differ; be incorrect

使う（つかう）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to use

捕まる（つかまる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be captured;arrested

付く（つく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be attached

着く（つく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to arrive

作る（つくる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to make

続く（つづく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be continued

繋がる（つながる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be connected

連れていく（つれていく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take somewhere(a person)

出会う（であう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to meet; to encounter

通る（とおる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pass

届く（とどく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to arrive (package)

飛ぶ（とぶ）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fly

止まる（とまる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to stop

泊まる（とまる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to stay (i.e. hotel)

取り消す（とりけす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cancel; to retract

撮る（とる）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take (a picture)

取る（とる）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take

直す（なおす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fix

治す（なおす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cure; heal

治る（なおる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be cured

直る（なおる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be fixed

泣かす（なかす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to make cry

泣く（なく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cry

鳴く（なく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to cry (animal)

無くす（なくす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to lose (something)

亡くなる（なくなる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pass away

殴る（なぐる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to punch

習う（ならう）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to learn

並ぶ（ならぶ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to line up

成る（なる）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to become

似合う（にあう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to suit; match

抜く（ぬく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pull out; to omit

脱ぐ（ぬぐ）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to undress; take off

願う（ねがう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to request; to wish

残す（のこす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to leave behind

残る（のこる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to remain

伸ばす（のばす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to stretch; lengthen

上る（のぼる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to go up; ascend

登る（のぼる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to climb

飲む（のむ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to drink

乗る（のる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to ride

入る（はいる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to enter

計る（はかる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to measure

履く（はく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to wear(below the waist)

吐く（はく）--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to throw up

運ぶ（はこぶ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to carry

はさむ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to place between

走る（はしる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to run

始まる（はじまる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to start

働く（はたらく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to work

話す（はなす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to speak

放す（はなす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to let go

払う（はらう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pay

張る（はる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to stick; paste

光る（ひかる）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to shine;be bright

弾く（ひく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to play(instrument)

引く（ひく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pull

冷やす（ひやす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to chill

拾う（ひろう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pick up

広がる（ひろがる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to spread;extend

吹く（ふく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to blow

降る（ふる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fall (i.e. rain)

ぶつかる ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to collide with

減る（へる）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to decrease

干す（ほす）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to dry; to air

曲がる（まがる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to bend; to curve

混じる（まじる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be mixed

巻く（まく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to roll; wind

待つ（まつ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to wait

学ぶ（まなぶ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to learn

迷う（まよう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to waver;hesitate

回る（まわる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to turn; revolve

見送る（みおくる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to see off

磨く（みがく）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to brush; polish

見直す（みなおす）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to re-examine

迎えに行く（むかえにいく）------------------------------------------------------------------------- to pick up

向く（むく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to face; be fit for

結ぶ（むすぶ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to tie; bind

目立つ（めだつ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to stand out

持っていく（もっていく）----------------------------------------------------------------------------- to take somewhere(thing)

申す（もうす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to say (humbly)

持つ（もつ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to have (hold)

もらう ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to receive

焼く（やく）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to grill; to burn

訳す（やくす）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to translate

役に立つ（やくにたつ）---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be useful; helpful

休む（やすむ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to rest

止む（やむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to stop(i.e. rain)

病む（やむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fall ill; suffer from

やる ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to do

許す（ゆるす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to forgive

酔っぱらう（よっぱらう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to get drunk

酔う（よう）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to get drunk; feel sick

呼ぶ（よぶ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to call for; to invite

読む（よむ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to read

喜ぶ（よろこぶ）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to rejoice

分かる（わかる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to understand

渡す（わたす）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to hand over

渡る（わたる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to cross over (i.e. bridge)

笑う（わらう）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to smile; laugh

• ru-verbs

諦める（あきらめる）-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to give up

開ける（あける）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to open

上げる（あげる）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ to raise

あげる ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to give

揚げる（あげる）---------------------