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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 好む | godan | to like; to prefer | |
| 始まる | Godan | to begin | |
| 学ぶ | godan | to learn | |
| 届く | Godan | to reach, to be delivered | |
| 履く | godan | to put on (lower body); to wear (shoes) | |
| 帰る | godan | to go home, to return | |
| 座る | Godan | to sit | |
| 引く | Godan | to pull | |
| 当たる | godan | to be hit; to strike | |
| 当てる | godan | to hit | |
| 待つ | godan | to wait | |
| 得る | godan | to be able to ...; can ... | |
| 応じる | godan | to respond; to satisfy; to accept; to comply with; to apply for | |
| 怒る | Godan verb | to get angry | |
| 思う | Godan verb | to think | |
| 急ぐ | Godan | to hurry | |
| 恐れる | godan | to fear; to be afraid of | |
| 悲しむ | godan | to be sad; to mourn for; to regret | |
| 愛する | godan | to love | |
| 感じる | godan | to feel; to sense; to experience | |
| 戦う | godan | to fight | |
| 戻る | godan | to return | |
| 手伝う | godan | to help | |
| 打つ | Godan verb | to hit, strike | |
| 払う | godan | to pay |
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.
