Questions tagged [verbs]

動詞. A class of words which describe events or states and can be inflected to indicate tense, aspect, voice, and so forth. In citation form, all Modern Japanese verbs end in -(r)u.

Questions about that class of words which describe events and states and can be inflected or conjugated to indicate relative time, as well as many other nuances.


Related tags

  • a term used to describe a class of words which describe qualities of nouns, but in the case of Japanese, refers to at least two entirely distinct word classes: descriptive nouns () and descriptive verbs ().
  • which behaves grammatically like like a verb in some respects, but is distinct and specialized, like "to be" in English.

See also

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Why are the verb classes called ichidan and godan?

Is there a particular reason why verbs are classified as "class 1" verbs (一段動詞) and "class 5" verbs (五段動詞)? Where did class 2 to 4 go? Do or did they exist at all, and why (not)? Thanks!
user3436926
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Plain verbs that end with ぬ other than 死ぬ

Are there any other verbs than 死ぬ whose plain forms end with ぬ? Why are they so rare? Is it because the verb 死ぬ itself has special etymology why it ended up having the ぬ ending?
Lukman
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What is the difference between these four forms of "to do"?

There are at least four verbs that mean "to do" in Japanese: する, なさる, いたす, and やる. What is the purpose of each, and when is it appropriate to use them?
Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams
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Do viruses あります or います?

Do viruses あります or います? Currently, I'm under the impression that animals and humans use います (though see this question), while plants and inanimate objects use あります. Do viruses fall under the latter category?
Golden Cuy
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Verb form used for a to-do list for oneself?

What verb form is usually used in Japanese for a to-do list for oneself? I want to start writing my to-do list in Japanese. In English, I would typically write my to-do list as actionable commands to myself (e.g., "Email Dave", "Vacuum the living…
Matt Robin
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Verb for "adjusting" glasses?

I searched jisho and found 整える but doing a google search for メガネを整える came up with practically no results so I feel that it's not the appropriate verb. メガネを繕う came up with more hits, is that the right one?
Daniel_L
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aru vs iru : Why is aru in "Watakushi-wa untenshu-ga aru" (私は運転手がある) unacceptable?

There is a generally expressed rule in Japanese that, when declaring existence, いる is used for animate subjects, and ある is used for inanimate subjects. There are some interesting variations in what is considered to be animate, but there's one very…
jkerian
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Can a verb be modified too many times?

Several years ago, I was taking a Japanese course and was given an assignment to translate an English sentence of my choosing. (There was probably more to the assignment than that, but I don't recall.) I chose a joke to translate: "If God didn't…
Sean
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What does this mean? シャッター速度はB,1-1/1000秒が切れます。

I was looking for some second-hand film camera on the internet. And there was a guy selling one with this condition: シャッター速度はB,1-1/1000秒が切れます。 What does "切れます" means in this case? It means the shutter works perfectly or doesn't work? Thank you in…
vozkizz
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What is the difference between 越える and 越す and are they truly transitive verbs?

My question arose when I was trying to rationalise the first two sentences below. I wondered if these two verbs (越すand 越える) formed a pair with one transitive, one intransitive (like 消える & 消す)with を acting as a "spatial object marker" for the…
Tim
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Stem classification 終止形 vs 連体形(しゅうしけい vs れんたいけい)

What is the difference between 終止形 and 連体形 and which one is the correct term for the dictionary form? The Japanese Grammar Wiki entry says... Terminal form (終止形 shūshikei) -u is used at the ends of clauses in predicate positions. This form is…
edwinbradford
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What is this verb form? 見せっこ

I am reading Hunter x Hunter, and the two protagonists (friends, and kids) are given cards that they are not supposed to reveal for the duration of the game. They start talking and they exchange a bit of information and then this is said…
Urukann
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What exactly is おく doing in 聞いておく?

Earlier today my friend and I were looking for a restaurant that someone had recommended we go to. We couldn't find it, and so my friend suggested I should check again with the person who recommended the place about where it is located. In telling…
Questioner
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Meaning/Breakdown of 答えの出しようのない疑問

I saw this sentence in a book: そんな答えの出しようのない疑問を、おそらくこの場に集められたプレーヤー全員が考えたのだろう。 The fan translation I had reads: Most players who had been forced here would have been asking this answer-less question. I am somewhat confused by the 出しよう part, what…
Aurast
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Why is 〜に受かる used to mean "to pass"?

I'm having trouble understanding why 〜に受かる means "to pass". What would the equivalent logic in English be for this phrase? (Something like the intransitive form of receive?) Also, why is the particle に used with 受かる, here?
user3457
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