100 Common Verbs in Japanese with Easy Examples

Japanese verbs are tiny engines. Once you know a few, you can suddenly say useful things like “I eat,” “I go,” “I don’t understand,” and “I accidentally bought three snacks because the packaging was cute.” Tragic. Relatable.

This guide gives you the 100 most common Japanese verbs with meanings and example sentences. Each verb includes Kanji, Rōmaji, clear English meaning, and one easy example sentence. If you are building your first Japanese base, you may also like this starter guide: 100 Japanese words and phrases to start learning.

Quick comfort snack before we begin: Japanese verbs do not change for “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” or “they.” 食べます
Tabemasu means “eat/eats/will eat” depending on context. Japanese saw English verb conjugation and quietly left the room.

Table of Contents

How To Use These Japanese Verbs

The verbs below are shown in dictionary form, like 食べる
Taberu, “to eat.” The example sentences use natural, beginner-friendly Japanese, often in polite form. Read the Japanese, say the Rōmaji, then check the English. That little three-step loop works better than staring intensely at a verb and hoping it becomes your friend.

Yak wisdom: learn verbs with tiny sentences, not lonely word lists. A verb without context is just standing there awkwardly.

Core Everyday Japanese Verbs

These verbs appear constantly in daily Japanese. They are the “please stop hiding in every sentence” verbs.

Kanji	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji	Translation
する	Suru	To do	宿題をします。	Shukudai o shimasu.	I do homework.
ある	Aru	To exist; to have, for things	机の上に本があります。	Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.	There is a book on the desk.
いる	Iru	To exist; to be, for people and animals	公園に犬がいます。	Kōen ni inu ga imasu.	There is a dog in the park.
行く	Iku	To go	明日、学校に行きます。	Ashita, gakkō ni ikimasu.	I will go to school tomorrow.
来る	Kuru	To come	友達が家に来ます。	Tomodachi ga ie ni kimasu.	My friend comes to my house.
帰る	Kaeru	To return; to go home	六時に家に帰ります。	Roku-ji ni ie ni kaerimasu.	I go home at six.
食べる	Taberu	To eat	朝ご飯を食べます。	Asagohan o tabemasu.	I eat breakfast.
飲む	Nomu	To drink	水を飲みます。	Mizu o nomimasu.	I drink water.
見る	Miru	To see; to watch	映画を見ます。	Eiga o mimasu.	I watch a movie.
聞く	Kiku	To hear; to listen; to ask	音楽を聞きます。	Ongaku o kikimasu.	I listen to music.
言う	Iu	To say	先生は「おはよう」と言います。	Sensei wa “ohayō” to iimasu.	The teacher says “good morning.”
話す	Hanasu	To speak; to talk	日本語を少し話します。	Nihongo o sukoshi hanashimasu.	I speak a little Japanese.
読む	Yomu	To read	毎晩、本を読みます。	Maiban, hon o yomimasu.	I read a book every night.
書く	Kaku	To write	名前を書きます。	Namae o kakimasu.	I write my name.
買う	Kau	To buy	新しい靴を買います。	Atarashii kutsu o kaimasu.	I buy new shoes.
売る	Uru	To sell	店で野菜を売ります。	Mise de yasai o urimasu.	They sell vegetables at the shop.
使う	Tsukau	To use	このペンを使います。	Kono pen o tsukaimasu.	I use this pen.
作る	Tsukuru	To make; to create	母はケーキを作ります。	Haha wa kēki o tsukurimasu.	My mother makes a cake.
待つ	Matsu	To wait	駅で友達を待ちます。	Eki de tomodachi o machimasu.	I wait for my friend at the station.
会う	Au	To meet	週末に友達に会います。	Shūmatsu ni tomodachi ni aimasu.	I meet my friend on the weekend.

Thinking, Knowing, Learning, And Working Verbs

These verbs help you talk about what is happening inside your head, which is useful when your head is currently saying, “Why does Japanese have three writing systems?” Very fair question.

Kanji	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji	Translation
分かる	Wakaru	To understand	この言葉が分かります。	Kono kotoba ga wakarimasu.	I understand this word.
知る	Shiru	To know; to find out	彼の名前を知っています。	Kare no namae o shitte imasu.	I know his name.
思う	Omou	To think; to feel	いい考えだと思います。	Ii kangae da to omoimasu.	I think it is a good idea.
考える	Kangaeru	To think about; to consider	旅行の計画を考えます。	Ryokō no keikaku o kangaemasu.	I think about the travel plan.
感じる	Kanjiru	To feel	少し寒いと感じます。	Sukoshi samui to kanjimasu.	I feel a little cold.
覚える	Oboeru	To remember; to learn by heart	新しい漢字を覚えます。	Atarashii kanji o oboemasu.	I memorize new kanji.
忘れる	Wasureru	To forget	傘を忘れました。	Kasa o wasuremashita.	I forgot my umbrella.
教える	Oshieru	To teach; to tell	先生は日本語を教えます。	Sensei wa Nihongo o oshiemasu.	The teacher teaches Japanese.
習う	Narau	To learn from someone	ピアノを習っています。	Piano o naratte imasu.	I am learning piano.
勉強する	Benkyō suru	To study	毎日、日本語を勉強します。	Mainichi, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.	I study Japanese every day.
働く	Hataraku	To work	父は銀行で働いています。	Chichi wa ginkō de hataraite imasu.	My father works at a bank.
休む	Yasumu	To rest; to take a day off	今日は家で休みます。	Kyō wa ie de yasumimasu.	I will rest at home today.
寝る	Neru	To sleep; to go to bed	十一時に寝ます。	Jūichi-ji ni nemasu.	I go to bed at eleven.
起きる	Okiru	To wake up; to get up	毎朝七時に起きます。	Maiasa shichi-ji ni okimasu.	I get up at seven every morning.
住む	Sumu	To live; to reside	東京に住んでいます。	Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.	I live in Tokyo.
歩く	Aruku	To walk	駅まで歩きます。	Eki made arukimasu.	I walk to the station.
走る	Hashiru	To run	公園で走ります。	Kōen de hashirimasu.	I run in the park.
泳ぐ	Oyogu	To swim	夏に海で泳ぎます。	Natsu ni umi de oyogimasu.	I swim in the sea in summer.
遊ぶ	Asobu	To play; to hang out	子供たちは外で遊びます。	Kodomotachi wa soto de asobimasu.	The children play outside.
旅行する	Ryokō suru	To travel	来月、京都へ旅行します。	Raigetsu, Kyōto e ryokō shimasu.	I will travel to Kyoto next month.

Movement, Opening, Closing, And Position Verbs

Japanese often has paired verbs: one for “something happens” and one for “someone does it.” For example, 開く
Aku means “to open” by itself, while 開ける
Akeru means “to open something.” Yes, Japanese likes doors and grammar traps.

Kanji	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji	Translation
開ける	Akeru	To open something	窓を開けます。	Mado o akemasu.	I open the window.
開く	Aku	To open	ドアが開きます。	Doa ga akimasu.	The door opens.
閉める	Shimeru	To close something	ドアを閉めてください。	Doa o shimete kudasai.	Please close the door.
閉まる	Shimaru	To close	店は九時に閉まります。	Mise wa ku-ji ni shimarimasu.	The shop closes at nine.
入る	Hairu	To enter; to go in	部屋に入ります。	Heya ni hairimasu.	I enter the room.
入れる	Ireru	To put in	かばんに財布を入れます。	Kaban ni saifu o iremasu.	I put my wallet in my bag.
出る	Deru	To leave; to go out; to appear	家を出ます。	Ie o demasu.	I leave the house.
出す	Dasu	To take out; to send; to submit	手紙を出します。	Tegami o dashimasu.	I send a letter.
立つ	Tatsu	To stand	学生は立ちます。	Gakusei wa tachimasu.	The students stand up.
座る	Suwaru	To sit	ここに座ってください。	Koko ni suwatte kudasai.	Please sit here.
置く	Oku	To put; to place	本を机に置きます。	Hon o tsukue ni okimasu.	I put the book on the desk.
持つ	Motsu	To hold; to have	ペンを持っています。	Pen o motte imasu.	I have a pen.
取る	Toru	To take	写真を取ります。	Shashin o torimasu.	I take a photo.
受ける	Ukeru	To receive; to take a test	明日、試験を受けます。	Ashita, shiken o ukemasu.	I will take an exam tomorrow.
もらう	Morau	To receive	友達から本をもらいました。	Tomodachi kara hon o moraimashita.	I received a book from my friend.
あげる	Ageru	To give	妹に花をあげます。	Imōto ni hana o agemasu.	I give flowers to my younger sister.
くれる	Kureru	To give to me or my group	友達がチョコをくれました。	Tomodachi ga choko o kuremashita.	My friend gave me chocolate.
借りる	Kariru	To borrow	図書館で本を借ります。	Toshokan de hon o karimasu.	I borrow a book at the library.
貸す	Kasu	To lend	兄にお金を貸します。	Ani ni okane o kashimasu.	I lend money to my older brother.
返す	Kaesu	To return something	明日、本を返します。	Ashita, hon o kaeshimasu.	I will return the book tomorrow.

Starting, Finishing, Changing, And Daily Action Verbs

This set is very practical. You can talk about starting class, finishing work, stopping a bus, washing clothes, cooking dinner, and changing plans. Basically: ordinary life, but now with more particles.

Kanji	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji	Translation
始まる	Hajimaru	To begin; to start	授業は九時に始まります。	Jugyō wa ku-ji ni hajimarimasu.	Class starts at nine.
始める	Hajimeru	To start something	新しい仕事を始めます。	Atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.	I start a new job.
終わる	Owaru	To finish; to end	会議は五時に終わります。	Kaigi wa go-ji ni owarimasu.	The meeting ends at five.
終える	Oeru	To finish something	仕事を早く終えました。	Shigoto o hayaku oemashita.	I finished the work early.
止まる	Tomaru	To stop	バスが駅で止まります。	Basu ga eki de tomarimasu.	The bus stops at the station.
止める	Tomeru	To stop something	車を止めます。	Kuruma o tomemasu.	I stop the car.
動く	Ugoku	To move	時計が動いています。	Tokei ga ugoite imasu.	The clock is moving.
動かす	Ugokasu	To move something	椅子を動かします。	Isu o ugokashimasu.	I move the chair.
変わる	Kawaru	To change	天気が変わりました。	Tenki ga kawarimashita.	The weather changed.
変える	Kaeru	To change something	予定を変えます。	Yotei o kaemasu.	I change the plan.
洗う	Arau	To wash	手を洗います。	Te o araimasu.	I wash my hands.
掃除する	Sōji suru	To clean	日曜日に部屋を掃除します。	Nichiyōbi ni heya o sōji shimasu.	I clean my room on Sunday.
料理する	Ryōri suru	To cook	父は夕食を料理します。	Chichi wa yūshoku o ryōri shimasu.	My father cooks dinner.
切る	Kiru	To cut	野菜を切ります。	Yasai o kirimasu.	I cut vegetables.
着る	Kiru	To wear clothes	青いシャツを着ます。	Aoi shatsu o kimasu.	I wear a blue shirt.
脱ぐ	Nugu	To take off clothes or shoes	靴を脱いでください。	Kutsu o nuide kudasai.	Please take off your shoes.
洗濯する	Sentaku suru	To do laundry	週末に服を洗濯します。	Shūmatsu ni fuku o sentaku shimasu.	I wash clothes on the weekend.
運転する	Unten suru	To drive	姉は車を運転します。	Ane wa kuruma o unten shimasu.	My older sister drives a car.
乗る	Noru	To ride; to get on	電車に乗ります。	Densha ni norimasu.	I get on the train.
降りる	Oriru	To get off	次の駅で降ります。	Tsugi no eki de orimasu.	I get off at the next station.

Finding, Choosing, Paying, Helping, And Feeling Verbs

These verbs are perfect for real conversations: finding your phone, paying for coffee, choosing lunch, asking questions, laughing, crying, and discovering that your “quick Japanese review” has become a two-hour rabbit hole. Noble work.

Kanji	Rōmaji	Meaning	Example	Rōmaji	Translation
探す	Sagasu	To search for; to look for	鍵を探しています。	Kagi o sagashite imasu.	I am looking for my key.
見つける	Mitsukeru	To find	駅の近くで店を見つけました。	Eki no chikaku de mise o mitsukemashita.	I found a shop near the station.
なくす	Nakusu	To lose something	財布をなくしました。	Saifu o nakushimashita.	I lost my wallet.
落とす	Otosu	To drop	スマホを落としました。	Sumaho o otoshimashita.	I dropped my smartphone.
拾う	Hirou	To pick up	道でコインを拾いました。	Michi de koin o hiroimashita.	I picked up a coin on the road.
払う	Harau	To pay	カードで払います。	Kādo de haraimasu.	I pay by card.
選ぶ	Erabu	To choose	赤い服を選びます。	Akai fuku o erabimasu.	I choose the red clothes.
決める	Kimeru	To decide	昼ご飯を決めました。	Hirugohan o kimemashita.	I decided on lunch.
助ける	Tasukeru	To help; to save	友達を助けます。	Tomodachi o tasukemasu.	I help my friend.
呼ぶ	Yobu	To call	タクシーを呼びます。	Takushī o yobimasu.	I call a taxi.
答える	Kotaeru	To answer	質問に答えます。	Shitsumon ni kotaemasu.	I answer the question.
質問する	Shitsumon suru	To ask a question	先生に質問します。	Sensei ni shitsumon shimasu.	I ask the teacher a question.
笑う	Warau	To laugh; to smile	赤ちゃんが笑っています。	Akachan ga waratte imasu.	The baby is smiling.
泣く	Naku	To cry	子供が泣いています。	Kodomo ga naite imasu.	The child is crying.
怒る	Okoru	To get angry	兄は少し怒っています。	Ani wa sukoshi okotte imasu.	My older brother is a little angry.
驚く	Odoroku	To be surprised	ニュースを聞いて驚きました。	Nyūsu o kiite odorokimashita.	I was surprised when I heard the news.
好きになる	Suki ni naru	To come to like	日本の音楽が好きになりました。	Nihon no ongaku ga suki ni narimashita.	I came to like Japanese music.
できる	Dekiru	Can do; to be able to do	私は少し料理ができます。	Watashi wa sukoshi ryōri ga dekimasu.	I can cook a little.
要る	Iru	To need	新しいノートが要ります。	Atarashii nōto ga irimasu.	I need a new notebook.
違う	Chigau	To be different; to be wrong	答えが違います。	Kotae ga chigaimasu.	The answer is wrong.

Quick Notes On Verb Pairs That Look Sneaky

Some Japanese verbs come in pairs. One means “it happens,” and the other means “someone does it.” English often uses the same verb for both, because English enjoys pretending it is simple.

Japanese Pair	Rōmaji	Meaning Difference	Easy Example	Rōmaji	Translation
開く / 開ける	Aku / Akeru	Opens by itself / Open something	ドアが開きます。ドアを開けます。	Doa ga akimasu. Doa o akemasu.	The door opens. I open the door.
閉まる / 閉める	Shimaru / Shimeru	Closes by itself / Close something	窓が閉まります。窓を閉めます。	Mado ga shimarimasu. Mado o shimemasu.	The window closes. I close the window.
始まる / 始める	Hajimaru / Hajimeru	Starts / Start something	映画が始まります。映画を始めます。	Eiga ga hajimarimasu. Eiga o hajimemasu.	The movie starts. I start the movie.
終わる / 終える	Owaru / Oeru	Ends / Finish something	授業が終わります。仕事を終えます。	Jugyō ga owarimasu. Shigoto o oemasu.	Class ends. I finish the work.
変わる / 変える	Kawaru / Kaeru	Changes / Change something	予定が変わります。予定を変えます。	Yotei ga kawarimasu. Yotei o kaemasu.	The plan changes. I change the plan.

Easy Practice With Common Japanese Verbs

Try swapping the noun while keeping the verb. This is one of the fastest ways to turn vocabulary into actual speech. Fancy? No. Effective? Annoyingly, yes.

Pattern	Rōmaji	Meaning	Swap Example	Rōmaji	Translation
本を読みます。	Hon o yomimasu.	I read a book.	新聞を読みます。	Shinbun o yomimasu.	I read a newspaper.
水を飲みます。	Mizu o nomimasu.	I drink water.	お茶を飲みます。	Ocha o nomimasu.	I drink tea.
学校に行きます。	Gakkō ni ikimasu.	I go to school.	会社に行きます。	Kaisha ni ikimasu.	I go to the company.
部屋を掃除します。	Heya o sōji shimasu.	I clean my room.	台所を掃除します。	Daidokoro o sōji shimasu.	I clean the kitchen.
友達に会います。	Tomodachi ni aimasu.	I meet my friend.	先生に会います。	Sensei ni aimasu.	I meet the teacher.
日本語を勉強します。	Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.	I study Japanese.	漢字を勉強します。	Kanji o benkyō shimasu.	I study kanji.

Common Mistakes And Tiny Fixes

Common Mix-Up	Better Choice	Example	Rōmaji	English
ある Aru for people	Use いる Iru for people and animals.	友達がいます。	Tomodachi ga imasu.	There is a friend / My friend is here.
いる Iru for objects	Use ある Aru for things.	机があります。	Tsukue ga arimasu.	There is a desk.
知ります Shirimasu for “I know”	Use 知っています Shitte imasu for “I know.”	その店を知っています。	Sono mise o shitte imasu.	I know that shop.
聞く Kiku confusion	It can mean “listen,” “hear,” or “ask.” Context does the work. Lazy? Maybe. Useful? Very.	先生に聞きます。	Sensei ni kikimasu.	I ask the teacher.
見る Miru for all “watch/see” ideas	It is often fine for beginners. Use it for TV, movies, people, and things you look at.	テレビを見ます。	Terebi o mimasu.	I watch TV.

Where To Go Next

Verbs become much more powerful when you mix them with adjectives, nouns, and topic vocabulary. For more Japanese learning, visit the main Learn Japanese hub. Then add color and opinion with Japanese adjectives, daily topics with hobbies in Japanese, survival phrases with don’t know and don’t understand in Japanese, and body-based vocabulary with senses vocabulary and phrases in Japanese.

Yak Takeaway

If you learn these 100 Japanese verbs with their example sentences, you will understand a surprising amount of everyday Japanese. Start with the first 20, say them out loud, then use one verb in a new sentence today. Small sentence, big win. The yak approves, probably while eating grass dramatically.