Common Japanese Verbs MASTER LIST
Updated: Feb 4, 2019
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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)---------------------