If sentences are the body of a language, then verbs are its heart, pumping action and life into every expression. Mastering Japanese verbs is the single most important step toward fluency, but it can feel daunting at first. The good news is that nearly every Japanese verb can be neatly sorted into one of just three groups. Understanding these categories is the key to unlocking conjugation and building sentences with confidence.
This guide will provide a thorough breakdown of the three verb groups. We’ll explore how Godan Ichidan en irregular verbs work, how to tell them apart, and why knowing the difference is crucial for your Japanese journey.
Quick Summary: The Three Verb Groups
| Verb Group | Also Known As | Key Feature | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godan | u-verbs | Conjugation stem changes its final vowel. | 話す (hanasu – to speak) |
| Ichidan | ru-verbs | Always ends in -iru or -eru. Drop the る to conjugate. | 見る (miru – to see) |
| Irregular | Follows its own unique pattern. | する (suru – to do), 来る (kuru – to come) |
Group 1: Godan Verbs (五段動詞) – The “Five-Step” Verbs
This is the largest group of verbs. The name Godan (五段) literally means “five steps” or “five levels.” This refers to the fact that the final vowel sound of the verb stem cycles through all five Japanese vowel sounds—A, I, U, E, O—depending on the conjugation. They are often called “u-verbs” because their dictionary form always ends with a ‘u’ sound.
Let’s look at the verb 書く (かく, kaku) – to write. Its constant stem is “kak-“. Notice how the vowel after the “k” changes:
Godan Conjugation Example: 書く (kaku)
A-form (Negative): 書かない (kakanai) – I don’t write
I-form (Polite): 書きます (kakimasu) – I write (polite)
U-form (Dictionary): 書く (kaku) – To write / I write
E-form (Potential): 書ける (kakeru) – I can write
O-form (Volitional): 書こう (kakou) – Let’s write
Common Godan Verbs
飲む (のむ) = nomu (to drink)
話す (はなす) = hanasu (to speak)
待つ (まつ) = matsu (to wait)
買う (かう) = kau (to buy)
死ぬ (しぬ) = shinu (to die)
Group 2: Ichidan Verbs (一段動詞) – The “One-Step” Verbs
If Godan verbs are complex, Ichidan verbs are beautifully simple. The name Ichidan (一段) means “one step,” because the verb stem never changes. They are often called “ru-verbs” because their dictionary form always ends in る (ru). Specifically, they end in either an “-iru” sound or an “-eru” sound.
To conjugate an Ichidan verb, you just **drop the final る (ru)** and add the appropriate ending. It’s that easy! Let’s take 食べる (たべる, taberu) – to eat. Its stem is “tabe-“.
Ichidan Conjugation Example: 食べる (taberu)
Negative: 食べ + ない = 食べない (tabenai) – I don’t eat
Polite: 食べ + ます = 食べます (tabemasu) – I eat (polite)
Dictionary: 食べる (taberu) – To eat / I eat
Potential: 食べ + られる = 食べられる (taberareru) – I can eat
Volitional: 食べ + よう = 食べよう (tabeyou) – Let’s eat
Common Ichidan Verbs
見る (みる) = miru (to see)
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)
信じる (しんじる) = shinjiru (to believe)
Group 3: Irregular Verbs (不規則動詞) – The Rule Breakers
This group is the smallest and easiest to learn because there are only two main verbs you need to memorize: する (suru) and 来る (kuru). They are called irregular because they don’t follow the patterns of either Godan or Ichidan verbs.
Irregular Verb 1: する (suru) – to do
This is one of the most useful verbs in Japanese. It can also be attached to nouns to turn them into verbs, like 勉強 (benkyō, study) becoming 勉強する (benkyō suru, to study).
Negative: しない (shinai)
Polite: します (shimasu)
Dictionary: する (suru)
Potential: できる (dekiru)
Irregular Verb 2: 来る (kuru) – to come
The pronunciation of this verb changes significantly in some forms, so pay close attention!
Negative: 来ない (konai) – Note the change from “ku” to “ko”
Polite: 来ます (kimasu)
Dictionary: 来る (kuru)
Potential: 来られる (korareru)
Distinguishing Godan Ichidan en irregular verbs
Okay, so you know the three groups. But how do you identify a verb you’ve never seen before? Follow this simple three-step process:
Step 1: Check for Irregulars.
- Is the verb する (suru), 来る (kuru), or a compound verb using them (like 電話する, denwa suru)? If yes, it’s Irregular (Group 3). Easy.
Step 2: Check the Ending.
- If it’s not irregular, look at the last character. Does it end in る (ru)?
- – If not, it is 100% a Godan (Group 1) verb. (e.g., 飲む nomu, 書く kaku).
Step 3: If it Ends in る, Check the Sound Before It.
- This is the trickiest part. If the verb ends in る, you must check the vowel sound of the syllable before the る.
- – If the vowel sound is ‘i’ or ‘e’ (like in mi-ru or tabe-ru), it is almost always an Ichidan (Group 2) verb.
- – If the vowel sound is ‘a’, ‘u’, or ‘o’ (like in owa-ru or too-ru), it is a Godan (Group 1) verb.
Imposter verbs
BEWARE: The “Imposter” Verbs!
There are a handful of very common verbs that look like Ichidan verbs (ending in -iru or -eru) but are actually sneaky Godan verbs. These must be memorized.
Key Imposters to Memorize:
帰る (かえる) – kaeru (to return) -> Godan
走る (はしる) – hashiru (to run) -> Godan
入る (はいる) – hairu (to enter) -> Godan
知る (しる) – shiru (to know) -> Godan
切る (きる) – kiru (to cut) -> Godan
要る (いる) – iru (to need) -> Godan. (Not to be confused with いる – to exist, which is Ichidan!)
Why Does This All Matter?
Understanding these verb groups isn’t just a grammar exercise; it’s the foundation for everything else. It determines how you create polite forms (-masu), negative forms (-nai), potential forms (“can do”), and the all-important te-form for connecting sentences. If you misidentify a verb, your entire sentence structure can fall apart.
By taking the time to master the rules for Godan Ichidan en irregular verbs, you are building a solid framework that will support every new piece of Japanese you learn from now on. Happy studying!
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