Unlock Japanese fluency by mastering godan, ichidan and irregular verbs! This may seem complicated to learn, but do not dispair. This clear guide breaks down Group 1, 2, and 3 verbs with eay to learn tables and lots of examples.
Introduction to Japanese Verb Groups
Welcome to the heart of Japanese grammar! If you want to speak Japanese fluently, understanding verb groups is non-negotiable. It’s the secret key that unlocks conjugation. Why? Because nearly every verb tense, from the simple past tense to complex polite forms, changes based on which group a verb belongs to.
Think of it as learning three main recipes. Once you know the recipe for a group, you can conjugate almost any verb in it. In Japanese, there are three of these “recipes”:
- Group 1: Godan Verbs (五段動詞 / ごだんどうし) – Also known as “u-verbs.” These are the most numerous and have a slightly more complex conjugation pattern.
- Group 2: Ichidan Verbs (一段動詞 / いちだんどうし) – Also known as “ru-verbs.” These are the easiest to conjugate—a true friend to learners!
- Group 3: Irregular Verbs (不規則動詞 / ふきそくどうし) – This group has only two main verbs, but they are incredibly common. You just have to memorize them.
This guide will break down godan and ichidan verbs, making them simple and clear. Let’s get started!
Deep Dive: Godan Verbs (Group 1 / う-verbs)
Godan (五段) literally means “five steps.” This name is a perfect description of how they work. The verb stem changes by cycling through the five Japanese vowel sounds: a, i, u, e, o. For example, the verb 書く (kaku – to write) has a stem “kak-” that becomes “kaka-“, “kaki-“, “kaku-“, “kake-“, and “kako-” depending on the conjugation.
How to Recognize Godan Verbs
The rule is simple at first: most godan verbs are those that do not end with an -iru (～いる) or -eru (～える) sound. For example, 読む (yomu – to read), 聞く (kiku – to listen), and 話す (hanasu – to speak) are all godan verbs.
However, there’s a catch! There are “impostor” verbs that look like ichidan verbs because they end in -iru or -eru, but they are actually godan verbs. You must memorize these common exceptions.
Common Godan “Impostor” Verbs (End in -iru / -eru but are Group 1)
- 帰る (かえる / kaeru) – to return
- 走る (はしる / hashiru) – to run
- 知る (しる / shiru) – to know
- 入る (はいる / hairu) – to enter
- 要る (いる / iru) – to need
- 切る (きる / kiru) – to cut
- 喋る (しゃべる / shaberu) – to chat
Godan Verb Conjugation
Let’s see the “five steps” in action with 書く (kaku – to write). Notice how the last sound changes.
| Form | Stem Change (u -> Vowel) | Example: 書く (kaku) |
|---|---|---|
| Nai Form (Negative) | u → a | 書かない (kakanai) – to not write |
| Masu Form (Polite) | u → i | 書きます (kakimasu) – to write (polite) |
| Dictionary Form | u | 書く (kaku) – to write |
| Potential Form | u → e | 書ける (kakeru) – to be able to write |
| Volitional Form | u → o | 書こう (kakou) – let’s write |
The Special Te-Form for Godan Verbs
The te-form for godan verbs doesn’t follow the vowel rule and has its own set of sound changes. These are essential for connecting clauses and making requests.
| Verb Ending | Te-Form Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～う, ～つ, ～る | ～って | 会う (au) → 会って (atte) |
| ～む, ～ぶ, ～ぬ | ～んで | 飲む (nomu) → 飲んで (nonde) |
| ～く | ～いて | 聞く (kiku) → 聞いて (kiite) |
| ～ぐ | ～いで | 泳ぐ (oyogu) → 泳いで (oyoide) |
| ～す | ～して | 話す (hanasu) → 話して (hanashite) |
More Godan Verb Examples
- 話す (はなす / hanasu) – to speak
- 待つ (まつ / matsu) – to wait
- 飲む (のむ / nomu) – to drink
- 買う (かう / kau) – to buy
- 作る (つくる / tsukuru) – to make
- 泳ぐ (およぐ / oyogu) – to swim
Deep Dive: Ichidan Verbs (Group 2 / る-verbs)
If godan verbs are the “five-step” verbs, ichidan (一段) verbs are the “one-step” verbs. This name is perfect because their conjugation is incredibly simple: you take one step. You just drop the final る (ru) and add the desired suffix. That’s it! They are wonderfully consistent.
How to Recognize Ichidan Verbs
The core rule is simple: Ichidan verbs always end in either -iru (～いる) or -eru (～える). If a verb ends this way and is NOT on the list of godan exceptions, it’s an ichidan verb. This is a crucial point in distinguishing between godan and ichidan verbs.
Ichidan Verb Conjugation
Let’s see how easy this is with 食べる (taberu – to eat). The stem is “tabe-“. You just drop the る and add the ending.
| Form | Rule | Example: 食べる (taberu) |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary Form | (Base Form) | 食べる (taberu) |
| Masu Form (Polite) | Drop る, add ます | 食べます (tabemasu) |
| Nai Form (Negative) | Drop る, add ない | 食べない (tabenai) |
| Te Form | Drop る, add て | 食べて (tabete) |
| Ta Form (Past) | Drop る, add た | 食べた (tabeta) |
| Potential Form | Drop る, add られる | 食べられる (taberareru) |
| Volitional Form | Drop る, add よう | 食べよう (tabeyou) |
More Ichidan Verb Examples
- 見る (みる / miru) – to see, to watch
- 寝る (ねる / neru) – to sleep
- 起きる (おきる / okiru) – to wake up
- 教える (おしえる / oshieru) – to teach
- 着る (きる / kiru) – to wear
- 信じる (しんじる / shinjiru) – to believe
Deep Dive: Irregular Verbs (Group 3)
This group is the smallest but contains two of the most important verbs in the entire language. There’s no system here—you just have to memorize their patterns.
する (suru) – to do
| Form | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Masu Form | します (shimasu) |
| Nai Form | しない (shinai) |
| Te Form | して (shite) |
| Potential Form | できる (dekiru) |
来る (くる / kuru) – to come
| Form | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Masu Form | 来ます (きます / kimasu) |
| Nai Form | 来ない (こない / konai) |
| Te Form | 来て (きて / kite) |
| Potential Form | 来られる (こられる / korareru) |
Note on other irregularities: A few verbs have minor quirks. For example, the godan verb 行く (いく / iku – to go) has an irregular te-form: 行って (いって / itte), not “iite.” The verb ある (aru – to exist) has an irregular negative form ない (nai) and a different polite form あります (arimasu).
How to Tell Godan and Ichidan Verbs Apart: A Quick Guide
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be! Use this simple checklist to figure out any verb’s group.
- Step 1: Is the verb する or 来る?
- If yes, it’s Irregular (Group 3). Done!
- Step 2: Does the verb end in る (ru)?
- If no (e.g., 飲む nomu, 書く kaku), it’s a Godan (Group 1) verb. Done!
- If yes, proceed to Step 3.
- Step 3: If it ends in る, what sound comes before it?
- If it’s an ‘i’ or ‘e’ sound (e.g., 見る miru, 食べる taberu), check the “impostor” list (e.g., 帰る, 走る).
- If it’s on the impostor list, it’s Godan (Group 1).
- If it’s NOT on the impostor list, it’s Ichidan (Group 2). Done!
- If the sound before る is ‘a’, ‘u’, or ‘o’ (e.g., 作る tsukuru, 終わる owaru), it’s a Godan (Group 1) verb. Done!
- If it’s an ‘i’ or ‘e’ sound (e.g., 見る miru, 食べる taberu), check the “impostor” list (e.g., 帰る, 走る).
Why are some -eru / -iru verbs godan verbs?
It’s a result of how the language has evolved over centuries. Some verbs that were historically conjugated differently have retained their original “godan” pattern even though their spelling now makes them look like “ichidan” verbs. For learners, it’s easiest to simply memorize the common exceptions.
6. Practice Section: Test Your Knowledge
Identify the group for each of the following verbs (Godan, Ichidan, or Irregular). The answers are below!
- 見る (miru)
- 話す (hanasu)
- 帰る (kaeru)
- する (suru)
- 起きる (okiru)
- 待つ (matsu)
- 遊ぶ (asobu)
- 寝る (neru)
- 来る (kuru)
- 走る (hashiru)
Answer Key
- 見る (miru) – Ichidan (ends in -iru, not an exception)
- 話す (hanasu) – Godan (doesn’t end in る)
- 帰る (kaeru) – Godan (it’s a common exception!)
- する (suru) – Irregular
- 起きる (okiru) – Ichidan (ends in -iru, not an exception)
- 待つ (matsu) – Godan (doesn’t end in る)
- 遊ぶ (asobu) – Godan (doesn’t end in る)
- 寝る (neru) – Ichidan (ends in -eru, not an exception)
- 来る (kuru) – Irregular
- 走る (hashiru) – Godan (it’s a common exception!)
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