Japanese verbs don’t always play by tidy rules, and godan verbs (also called u‑verbs) can feel like a puzzle if you’re just starting to spot the patterns. Once you nail the five‑vowel shifts, though, a huge chunk of everyday Japanese clicks into place. This list gathers around 200 of the most common godan verbs you’ll actually use-whether you’re chatting about your day, reading manga, or just trying to order ramen without sounding like a textbook.
Ready to wrangle some verb endings? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable Japanese godan verbs vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Japanese godan verbs flashcards—your study sidekicks for mastering these busy little verbs.
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Quick Quiz
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Type | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 上がる | godan | to rise, to go up | |
| 下がる | godan | to fall, to go down | |
| 下ろす | godan | to take down (e.g. flag); to launch (e.g. boat); to drop; to lower (e.g. ladder); to let (a person) off; to unload; to discharge | |
| 乗る | godan | to ride, to board | |
| 休む | godan | to rest, to take a break | |
| 会う | Godan verb | to meet | |
| 住む | Godan | to live | |
| 作る | Godan verb | to make | |
| 使う | godan | to use | |
| 信じる | godan | to believe; to believe in; to place trust in; to confide in; to have faith in | |
| 働く | Godan | to work | |
| 優れる | godan | to surpass; to outstrip; to excel | |
| 光る | godan verb | to shine | |
| 入る | Godan verb | to enter | |
| 凍る | godan | to freeze; to be frozen over; to congeal | |
| 出す | Godan | to take out, to put out | |
| 分かる | Godan | to understand | |
| 切る | godan | to cut | |
| 切れる | godan | to break; to snap; to be cut; to split; to crack | |
| 刈る | godan | to cut (grass, hair, etc.); to mow; to clip; to trim; to prune; to shear; to reap; to harvest | |
| 加わる | godan | to be added to; to be appended | |
| 劣る | godan | to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind | |
| 助かる | Godan | to be saved, to be helped | |
| 効く | godan | to be effective; to show effect | |
| 動かす | godan | to move; to shift; to stir; to budge; to change position |
Free Japanese Godan Verbs Vocabulary List and Flashcard PDFs
Grab the purple Japanese godan verbs vocabulary list button for your 100% free, no-signup PDF. Then tap the teal Japanese godan verbs flashcards button for the matching flashcards set, also completely free and ready to print.
