50 Must-Know Japanese Verbs for Beginners

A handful of verbs power most everyday sentences. Learn these and you''ll express a huge range of ideas.

Daily actions

行く (go), 来る (come), 帰る (return), 食べる (eat), 飲む (drink), 見る (see/watch), 聞く (listen/ask), 話す (speak), 読む (read), 書く (write).

Around the home

起きる (wake up), 寝る (sleep), 作る (make), 買う (buy), 使う (use), 洗う (wash), 開ける (open), 閉める (close), 立つ (stand), 座る (sit).

Study & work

勉強する (study), 働く (work), 教える (teach), 習う (learn), 覚える (memorise), 忘れる (forget), 分かる (understand), 知る (know), 考える (think), 待つ (wait).

Social & feelings

会う (meet), 遊ぶ (play/hang out), 手伝う (help), 借りる (borrow), 貸す (lend), 好き (like — na-adj), 欲しい (want — adj), 泣く (cry), 笑う (laugh), 頑張る (do one''s best).

How to learn them

Study each verb with its group (う/る/irregular) and an example sentence, then drill the te-form and past tense. These 50 verbs will carry you through countless conversations.