Japanese Verbs Kanji: 20 Essential Action Words in Japanese
Master the most common Japanese verb kanji: 食 (eat), 飲 (drink), 行 (go), 来 (come), 見 (see), 聞 (hear), 読 (read), 書 (write), 話 (speak), 走 (run), and more. Each entry includes readings, conjugations, and example sentences.
Japanese Verbs at a Glance
Three Verb Groups
Japanese verbs fall into three groups: Group 1 (u-verbs like 書く, 読む), Group 2 (ru-verbs like 食べる, 見る), and Group 3 (irregular verbs する and 来る). Each group follows different conjugation patterns, but once you know the group, the rules are consistent.
Kanji + Okurigana
Japanese verbs are written with kanji for the root meaning plus hiragana endings called okurigana. For example, 食べる (taberu, eat) uses kanji 食 for "eat" and hiragana べる for the verb ending. The okurigana changes when you conjugate the verb.
JLPT Essentials
Most basic verb kanji appear at JLPT N5-N4 level. Verbs like 食べる (eat), 見る (see), 行く (go), and 書く (write) are among the first kanji that Japanese learners encounter. Mastering these 20 verb kanji covers a large portion of everyday conversation.
Core Japanese Verb Kanji
These twenty verb kanji are among the most frequently used in Japanese. Learn their readings and meanings to unlock hundreds of compound words and expressions.
| Meaning | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eat | 食 | たべる | taberu | N5 |
| Drink | 飲 | のむ | nomu | N5 |
| Go | 行 | いく | iku | N5 |
| Come | 来 | くる | kuru | N5 |
| See / Look | 見 | みる | miru | N5 |
| Hear / Listen | 聞 | きく | kiku | N5 |
| Read | 読 | よむ | yomu | N5 |
| Write | 書 | かく | kaku | N5 |
| Speak / Talk | 話 | はなす | hanasu | N5 |
| Run | 走 | はしる | hashiru | N4 |
| Walk | 歩 | あるく | aruku | N4 |
| Stand | 立 | たつ | tatsu | N4 |
| Sit / Live | 座 | すわる | suwaru | N4 |
| Wait | 待 | まつ | matsu | N4 |
| Hold / Have | 持 | もつ | motsu | N4 |
| Use | 使 | つかう | tsukau | N4 |
| Learn / Study | 学 | まなぶ | manabu | N4 |
| Teach | 教 | おしえる | oshieru | N4 |
| Think | 思 | おもう | omou | N4 |
| Know | 知 | しる | shiru | N4 |
All Japanese Verb Kanji Explained
Explore each verb kanji with its readings, origin story, conjugation forms, and example sentences.
Example:
朝ごはんを食べましたか。
Asagohan wo tabemashita ka.
Did you eat breakfast?
Example:
お茶を飲みましょう。
Ocha wo nomimashou.
Let's drink tea.
Example:
学校に行きます。
Gakkou ni ikimasu.
I go to school.
Example:
友達が家に来ました。
Tomodachi ga ie ni kimashita.
A friend came to my house.
Example:
映画を見ましたか。
Eiga wo mimashita ka.
Did you watch a movie?
Example:
音楽を聞いています。
Ongaku wo kiite imasu.
I'm listening to music.
Example:
毎日本を読みます。
Mainichi hon wo yomimasu.
I read books every day.
Example:
手紙を書きましょう。
Tegami wo kakimashou.
Let's write a letter.
Example:
日本語を話せますか。
Nihongo wo hanasemasu ka.
Can you speak Japanese?
Example:
公園で走りました。
Kouen de hashirimashita.
I ran in the park.
Example:
駅まで歩きます。
Eki made arukimasu.
I walk to the station.
Example:
ここに立ってください。
Koko ni tatte kudasai.
Please stand here.
Example:
椅子に座ってください。
Isu ni suwatte kudasai.
Please sit in the chair.
Example:
ちょっと待ってください。
Chotto matte kudasai.
Please wait a moment.
Example:
傘を持っていますか。
Kasa wo motte imasu ka.
Do you have an umbrella?
Example:
このアプリを使ってください。
Kono apuri wo tsukatte kudasai.
Please use this app.
Example:
日本語を学んでいます。
Nihongo wo manande imasu.
I'm studying Japanese.
Example:
英語を教えています。
Eigo wo oshiete imasu.
I'm teaching English.
Example:
それはいいと思います。
Sore wa ii to omoimasu.
I think that's good.
Example:
この漢字を知っていますか。
Kono kanji wo shitte imasu ka.
Do you know this kanji?
Japanese Verb Groups Explained
Understanding verb groups is key to conjugating Japanese verbs correctly. Each group follows its own conjugation pattern.
U-verbs end in an u-sound (ku, gu, su, tsu, nu, bu, mu, ru). The final syllable changes when conjugated. Most Japanese verbs belong to this group.
Ru-verbs end in -eru or -iru. To conjugate, simply drop the -ru and add the new ending. This makes them the easiest group to conjugate.
Only two verbs are truly irregular: する (suru, to do) and 来る (kuru, to come). Their conjugations must be memorized, but they appear constantly in Japanese.
Basic Verb Conjugation Patterns
Here's how the four most important conjugation forms work for each verb group. Master these and you can express past, present, negative, and connecting actions.
| Form | 食べる (eat, Grp 2) | 書く (write, Grp 1) | する (do, Grp 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 食べる | 書く | する |
| Masu (polite) | 食べます | 書きます | します |
| Te (connecting) | 食べて | 書いて | して |
| Nai (negative) | 食べない | 書かない | しない |
| Ta (past) | 食べた | 書いた | した |
| Masen (polite neg.) | 食べません | 書きません | しません |
| Mashita (polite past) | 食べました | 書きました | しました |
| Potential (can do) | 食べられる | 書ける | できる |
Verb Compound Words (Jukugo)
Verb kanji combine with other kanji to create compound words that expand your vocabulary. These are some of the most useful compound words built from verb kanji.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 食事 | shokuji | Meal (eat + affair) |
| 飲料 | inryou | Beverage (drink + ingredient) |
| 旅行 | ryokou | Travel (trip + go) |
| 見物 | kenbutsu | Sightseeing (see + thing) |
| 新聞 | shinbun | Newspaper (new + hear) |
| 読書 | dokusho | Reading books (read + write) |
| 会話 | kaiwa | Conversation (meet + talk) |
| 散歩 | sanpo | Stroll (scatter + walk) |
| 独立 | dokuritsu | Independence (alone + stand) |
| 気持ち | kimochi | Feeling (spirit + hold) |
| 勉強 | benkyou | Study (effort + strong) |
| 知識 | chishiki | Knowledge (know + recognize) |
Tips for Learning Japanese Verb Kanji
Learn Verbs in Context
Don't just memorize the kanji: learn verbs in full sentences. When you see 食べる (taberu), practice saying 朝ごはんを食べる (asagohan wo taberu, eat breakfast). Context helps both meaning and reading stick in your memory.
Focus on Okurigana Patterns
The hiragana endings (okurigana) on verbs tell you the conjugation group. If a verb ends in -eru or -iru after the kanji, it's likely Group 2 (easier conjugation). If it ends in -ku, -gu, -su, -tsu, -mu, -nu, -bu, or -u, it's Group 1.
Spot the Radicals
Many verb kanji share radicals that hint at meaning. The hand radical 扌appears in 持つ (hold) and 打つ (hit). The mouth radical 口 appears in 食 (eat) and 飲 (drink). The speech radical 言 appears in 話 (speak) and 読 (read). These patterns help you guess meanings of new verbs.
Practice with Flashcards
Use our gamified card collection to master verb kanji. See the kanji, recall the reading and meaning, then check your answer. Spaced repetition helps you remember long-term. Collect cards into your personal Jisho as you learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verb kanji do I need to know for JLPT N5?
For JLPT N5, you need about 80 kanji total, including roughly 20-25 verb kanji. The essential ones are 食 (eat), 飲 (drink), 行 (go), 来 (come), 見 (see), 聞 (hear), 読 (read), 書 (write), 話 (speak), and 買 (buy). All 20 verbs on this page are N5 or N4 level, meaning they're fundamental to basic Japanese.
What are the three verb groups in Japanese?
Group 1 (u-verbs/godan) includes verbs ending in consonant + u sounds like 書く (kaku, write), 読む (yomu, read), 話す (hanasu, speak). Group 2 (ru-verbs/ichidan) includes verbs ending in -eru or -iru like 食べる (taberu, eat), 見る (miru, see). Group 3 has just two irregular verbs: する (suru, do) and 来る (kuru, come). Group 2 verbs are the easiest to conjugate: just drop -ru and add the new ending.
What is the most common Japanese verb?
The most common verb is する (suru, to do). It combines with nouns to create hundreds of compound verbs: 勉強する (study), 運動する (exercise), 料理する (cook), 旅行する (travel). Other extremely frequent verbs are ある/いる (exist), 行く (go), 来る (come), 見る (see), and 食べる (eat). These six verbs alone cover a huge portion of everyday Japanese.
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