By verb
One verb, many partners. Learning them side by side shows what the verb really means.
Grouped by sound, so words that sound the same but are written differently share a group.
aru ある
- hanashi ga aruneed to talk (to you) · Stage 1
- shitsumon ga aruhave a question · Stage 1
- deai ga arumeet someone new · Stage 1
- jugyou ga aruhave class · Stage 1
- kaigi ga aruhave a meeting · Stage 1
- shiken ga aruhave an exam · Stage 1
- netsu ga aruhave a fever · Stage 2
- kyoumi ga arube interested (in) · Stage 2
- jishin ga arube confident (in yourself, your answer) · Stage 2
- yotei ga aruhave plans · Stage 3
- denwa ga aru(someone) called, there was a call from X · Stage 3
- youji ga aruhave something to do · Stage 3
- sen'yaku ga aruhave prior plans · Stage 3
- onegai ga aruhave a favour to ask · Stage 3
- ninki ga arube popular · Stage 3
- arerugii ga arube allergic (to something) · Stage 4
- keiken ga aruhave experience · Stage 4
- nayami ga aruhave something on your mind · Stage 4
- soudan ga aruwant to ask your advice · Stage 4
- tairyoku ga aruhave stamina, be fit · Stage 4
ii いい
- sutairu ga iihave a good figure · Stage 1
- kimochi ga iifeels good, feels nice · Stage 1
- kibun ga iibe in a good mood; feel well · Stage 1
- igokochi ga iicomfortable to be in, cosy · Stage 1
- tenki ga iithe weather is nice · Stage 1
- atama ga iibe smart, clever · Stage 1
- sensu ga iihave good taste, a good eye · Stage 1
- choushi ga iibe in good shape, going well · Stage 1
- un ga iibe lucky · Stage 1
- naka ga iiget along well, be close · Stage 2
- seikaku ga iibe a nice person · Stage 2
- kanji ga iibe pleasant, nice (person or place) · Stage 2
- tsugou ga iisuit someone, be convenient · Stage 3
- ii fun'ikia nice atmosphere, good vibe · Stage 3
- hyouban ga iihave a good reputation · Stage 3
- seiseki ga iihave good grades, do well at school · Stage 3
- karada ni iigood for you, healthy · Stage 4
- undou shinkei ga iibe athletic · Stage 4
suru する
- hanashi o surutalk, have a talk · Stage 1
- geemu o suruplay games (video games, cards and the like) · Stage 1
- sakkaa o suruplay soccer · Stage 1
- nioi ga surusmell something, there's a smell · Stage 2
- oto ga suruhear a noise, there's a sound · Stage 2
- tanoshimi ni surulook forward to · Stage 2
- naisho ni surukeep it secret · Stage 2
- ikura suruhow much it costs (price + suru) · Stage 3
- warikan ni surusplit the bill · Stage 3
- aji ga surutaste (like something) · Stage 3
- shukudai o surudo homework · Stage 3
- kaji o surudo the housework · Stage 4
- masuku o suruwear a mask · Stage 4
- futa o suruput the lid on · Stage 4
- baka ni surumake fun of, look down on · Stage 4
- yubiwa o suruwear a ring · Stage 4
- nekutai o suruwear a tie · Stage 4
- kega o suruget hurt, get injured · Stage 4
iku 行く
- kaimono ni ikugo shopping · Stage 1
- gakkou ni ikugo to school · Stage 1
- shigoto ni ikugo to work · Stage 1
- toire ni ikugo to the toilet · Stage 1
- asobi ni ikugo out for fun; go visit · Stage 1
- eiga ni ikugo to the movies · Stage 1
- sanpo ni ikugo for a walk · Stage 1
- karaoke ni ikugo to karaoke · Stage 1
- gohan ni ikugo out to eat · Stage 2
- byouin ni ikusee a doctor · Stage 2
- nomi ni ikugo out for drinks · Stage 3
- ryokou ni ikugo on a trip · Stage 3
- mukae ni ikugo to pick someone up · Stage 3
- tsuri ni ikugo fishing · Stage 4
- kyanpu ni ikugo camping · Stage 4
- ohanami ni ikugo cherry-blossom viewing · Stage 4
- hatsumoude ni ikumake the year's first shrine visit · Stage 4
deru 出る
- uchi o deruleave the house · Stage 1
- soto ni derugo outside, step out · Stage 1
- netsu ga deruget a fever · Stage 2
- seki ga deruhave a cough · Stage 2
- hanamizu ga deruhave a runny nose · Stage 2
- densha ga deruthe train leaves · Stage 2
- denwa ni deruanswer the phone · Stage 3
- tsuki ga deruthe moon comes out · Stage 3
- oto ga derusound comes out (of a TV, speaker, phone) · Stage 4
- kekka ga deruthe results come out · Stage 4
- yaruki ga deruget motivated · Stage 4
- genki ga deruperk up, get a lift · Stage 4
- chi ga derubleed, be bleeding · Stage 4
- namida ga derutear up, eyes water · Stage 4
naru なる · 鳴る
- benkyou ni narube instructive; learn a lot · Stage 1
- tomodachi ni narubecome friends (with someone) · Stage 1
- enki ni narube postponed · Stage 1
- tame ni narube worthwhile, do you good · Stage 1
- byouki ni naruget sick, fall ill · Stage 2
- otona ni narugrow up, become an adult · Stage 2
- kaminari ga naruit thunders; thunder rumbles · Stage 2
- yoko ni narulie down · Stage 2
- denwa ga naruthe phone rings · Stage 3
- osewa ni narube looked after, be indebted · Stage 3
- gochisou ni narube treated (to a meal) · Stage 3
- maigo ni naruget lost (wander off, like a lost child) · Stage 3
- kibun tenkan ni narube a nice change of pace, do someone good · Stage 4
- chuushi ni narube called off · Stage 4
warui 悪い
- kimochi ga waruifeel queasy, feel nauseous; gross, creepy · Stage 1
- kigen ga waruibe in a bad mood, grumpy · Stage 1
- guai ga waruifeel unwell · Stage 1
- taichou ga waruinot feel well, be under the weather (the safe phrase at work) · Stage 1
- choushi ga waruifeel off; act up (devices) · Stage 1
- kibun ga waruifeel sick (queasy or faint); feel put off · Stage 1
- un ga waruibe unlucky · Stage 1
- naka ga waruibe on bad terms · Stage 2
- seikaku ga waruibe mean, nasty · Stage 2
- tsugou ga waruinot suit someone, can't make it (a time) · Stage 3
- denpa ga waruibad signal, poor reception · Stage 4
- kaoiro ga waruilook pale, look unwell · Stage 4
- me ga waruihave poor eyesight · Stage 4
kakeru かける
- koe o kakeruspeak to, call out to; ask along · Stage 1
- ongaku o kakeruput on music · Stage 2
- kagi o kakerulock (a door, bike, locker) · Stage 2
- mezamashi o kakeruset an alarm · Stage 2
- denwa o kakerumake a phone call · Stage 3
- meiwaku o kakerucause someone trouble · Stage 3
- shinpai o kakerumake someone worry · Stage 3
- soujiki o kakeruvacuum (the floor) · Stage 4
- megane o kakeruwear / put on glasses · Stage 4
- jikan o kakeruput time into, take time over · Stage 4
toru 撮る · 取る
- shashin o torutake a photo · Stage 2
- renraku o toruget or stay in touch · Stage 2
- yasumi o torutake time off · Stage 3
- kyuukei o torutake a break · Stage 3
- chiketto o toruget hold of tickets · Stage 3
- ten o toruscore, get marks (on a test) · Stage 4
- toshi o toruget older, age · Stage 4
- jikan o toruset aside time, take up time · Stage 4
- memo o torutake notes, write it down · Stage 4
hairu 入る
- ofuro ni hairutake a bath · Stage 1
- shigoto ga hairuwork comes up · Stage 1
- futon ni hairuget into bed, get under the covers · Stage 2
- kotatsu ni hairuget under the kotatsu · Stage 2
- yotei ga hairuhave plans, get booked · Stage 3
- onsen ni hairubathe in a hot spring · Stage 3
- daigaku ni hairuget into university, start university · Stage 4
- kaisha ni hairujoin a company · Stage 4
miru 見る
- eiga o miruwatch a movie · Stage 1
- terebi o miruwatch TV · Stage 2
- nyuusu o miruwatch or check the news · Stage 2
- mendou o mirulook after, take care of · Stage 2
- shashin o mirulook at photos · Stage 2
- yume o miruhave a dream (while asleep) · Stage 2
- yousu o miruwait and see; check on (someone) · Stage 4
nai ない
- jikan ga naihave no time · Stage 1
- hima ga naihave no free time · Stage 1
- okane ga naihave no money, be broke · Stage 1
- yoyuu ga naihave nothing to spare · Stage 1
- genki ga naibe down, low on energy · Stage 2
- yaruki ga naihave no motivation, can't be bothered · Stage 4
noru 乗る
- densha ni noruride / get on the train · Stage 1
- basu ni norutake the bus · Stage 1
- kuruma ni noruget in / ride in a car · Stage 1
- jitensha ni noruride a bike · Stage 1
- hikouki ni norufly, take a plane · Stage 3
- soudan ni norugive advice, hear someone out · Stage 4
ireru 入れる
- ocha o irerumake tea · Stage 4
- satou o ireruput sugar in, add sugar · Stage 4
- dengen o ireruturn on (a phone or device) · Stage 4
- reizouko ni ireruput in the fridge · Stage 4
- apuri o ireruinstall an app, get an app · Stage 4
iu 言う
- joudan o iujoke, kid around · Stage 2
- monku o iucomplain · Stage 2
- guchi o iugrumble, vent · Stage 2
- orei o iuthank someone, say thanks · Stage 3
- honne o iusay what you really think · Stage 4
kakaru かかる
- kagi ga kakaru(a door) locks, gets locked (kakatteru = is locked) · Stage 2
- jikan ga kakarutake time · Stage 2
- tema ga kakarutake work, be a hassle · Stage 2
- okane ga kakarucost money · Stage 3
- denwa ga kakaruget a phone call · Stage 3
kiru 切る · 着る
- kami o kiruget a haircut · Stage 1
- tsume o kirucut your nails · Stage 1
- fuku o kiruput on / wear clothes · Stage 2
- denwa o kiruhang up the phone · Stage 3
- dengen o kiruturn off (a phone or device) · Stage 4
nomu 飲む
- mizu o nomudrink water · Stage 2
- koohii o nomudrink coffee · Stage 2
- osake o nomudrink (alcohol) · Stage 2
- ocha o nomuhave tea, drink tea · Stage 2
- kusuri o nomutake medicine · Stage 2
tsukau 使う · 遣う
- okane o tsukauspend money · Stage 3
- kaado o tsukaupay by card · Stage 3
- keigo o tsukauspeak politely, use honorifics · Stage 3
- ki o tsukaube considerate, go to trouble · Stage 3
- atama o tsukauuse your head; make you think · Stage 4
aku 開く · 空く
- doa ga akuthe door opens (aiteru = is open) · Stage 2
- jikan ga akube free (have time) · Stage 3
- seki ga akua seat frees up (aiteru = a seat is free) · Stage 3
- mise ga akua shop opens (aiteru = is open) · Stage 4
arau 洗う
- te o arauwash your hands · Stage 1
- kao o arauwash your face · Stage 1
- kami o arauwash your hair · Stage 1
- osara o arauwash the dishes, wash up · Stage 3
dasu 出す
- gomi o dasutake out the trash · Stage 3
- genki o dasucheer up · Stage 3
- shukudai o dasuhand in homework · Stage 3
- kekka o dasuget results, deliver results · Stage 4
dekiru できる
- shigoto ga dekirube capable, good at one's job · Stage 1
- tomodachi ga dekirumake a friend, make friends · Stage 1
- gohan ga dekiruthe meal gets ready (dekita = it's ready) · Stage 2
- junbi ga dekirube ready · Stage 2
itai 痛い
- atama ga itaihave a headache · Stage 1
- onaka ga itaihave a stomachache · Stage 1
- nodo ga itaihave a sore throat · Stage 1
- koshi ga itaihave lower back pain · Stage 1
tsuku 付く · つく · 着く
- ki ga tsukunotice, realise · Stage 2
- denki ga tsukuthe light comes on (tsuiteru = is on) · Stage 2
- uso o tsukutell a lie · Stage 2
- eki ni tsukuget to the station · Stage 3
hiku 弾く · 引く
- piano o hikuplay the piano · Stage 1
- kaze o hikucatch a cold · Stage 2
- omikuji o hikudraw a fortune slip · Stage 4
kaeru 帰る · 変える
- uchi ni kaerugo home, get home · Stage 1
- channeru o kaeruchange the channel · Stage 2
- jikka ni kaerugo home to your parents' · Stage 3
kaku 描く · かく
- e o kakudraw or paint a picture · Stage 1
- haji o kakuembarrass yourself, make a fool of yourself · Stage 4
- ase o kakusweat, get sweaty · Stage 4
kiku 聞く · 効く
- hanashi o kikulisten to someone, hear someone out · Stage 1
- ongaku o kikulisten to music · Stage 2
- kusuri ga kikumedicine works, takes effect · Stage 2
kuru 来る
- renraku ga kuruhear from someone · Stage 2
- taifuu ga kurua typhoon comes (hits) · Stage 2
- meeru ga kuruget an email · Stage 3
okuru 送る
- shashin o okurusend a photo · Stage 2
- ie made okurusee or drive someone home · Stage 3
- meeru o okurusend an email · Stage 3
shimeru 閉める
- doa o shimeruclose the door · Stage 2
- mado o shimeruclose the window · Stage 2
- kaaten o shimeruclose the curtains · Stage 2
tatsu 立つ · 経つ
- yaku ni tatsube useful, helpful · Stage 1
- jikan ga tatsutime passes · Stage 2
- torihada ga tatsuget goosebumps · Stage 4
tsukeru つける
- denki o tsukeruturn on the light · Stage 2
- kakko tsukerushow off, act cool · Stage 4
- kousui o tsukeruwear / put on perfume · Stage 4
tsuyoi 強い
- kaze ga tsuyoiit's windy · Stage 1
- ame ga tsuyoithe rain is heavy · Stage 1
- osake ga tsuyoican hold one's drink · Stage 3
wakaru 分かる
- imi ga wakaruunderstand what something means; (negative) make no sense · Stage 2
- kimochi ga wakaruknow how someone feels · Stage 2
- chigai ga wakarutell the difference · Stage 2
akeru 開ける
au 合う · 会う
fuku 吹く · 拭く
furu 降る
haku 履く
hayai 早い · 速い
hazusu 外す
iru いる · 入る
kau 買う · 飼う
kawaku 渇く · 乾く
kireru 切れる
komu 混む
- mise ga komu(a place) gets crowded (konderu = is packed) · Stage 2
- michi ga komuthe traffic is heavy · Stage 3
magaru 曲がる
nagai 長い
noboru 昇る · 登る
nugu 脱ぐ
nuku 抜く
okureru 遅れる
- densha ga okureruthe train is delayed · Stage 2
- densha ni okurerube late for the train (and so miss it) · Stage 2
ooi 多い
oshieru 教える
osu 押す
sameru 冷める · 覚める
- gohan ga sameruthe food gets cold · Stage 2
- me ga sameruwake up (from sleep); feel wide awake (me ga sameta) · Stage 2
shimaru 閉まる
- doa ga shimaruthe door closes (shimatteru = is shut) · Stage 2
- mise ga shimarua shop closes (shimatteru = is closed) · Stage 4
takai 高い
tameru 貯める
tsukuru 作る
yameru 辞める · やめる
yowai 弱い
One noun each
- shawaa o abirutake a shower · Stage 1
- tenshon ga agaruget excited, get hyped · Stage 4
- te o ageruraise your hand · Stage 4
- kao ga akaibe red in the face · Stage 4
- kaze ni ataruget some (fresh) air · Stage 1
- obentou o atatameruheat up a boxed lunch · Stage 4
- heya ga chirakaru(a room) gets messy, is a mess · Stage 3
- karada ga daruifeel heavy and sluggish · Stage 2
- ame ni furareruget caught in the rain · Stage 1
- geemu ni hamarube hooked on games; be really into games · Stage 3
- eigo o hanasuspeak English · Stage 1
- okane o haraupay (money) · Stage 3
- tenki yohou ga hazureruthe forecast is wrong · Stage 2
- onaka ga heruget hungry (blunter, casual) · Stage 1
- se ga hikuibe short (height) · Stage 1
- sentakumono o hosuhang out the laundry · Stage 4
- sumaho o ijirube on your phone · Stage 2
- onaka ga ippaibe full (after eating) · Stage 1
- shigoto ga isogashiibe busy with work · Stage 1
- tanjoubi o iwaucelebrate a birthday · Stage 3
- nihongo ga jouzube good at Japanese · Stage 1
- boushi o kaburuwear / put on a hat · Stage 4
- meeru o kaesureply to a message · Stage 3
- heya o karirurent a room or flat · Stage 4
- heya o katazukerutidy up one's room · Stage 3
- shiai ni katsuwin a match · Stage 3
- denki o kesuturn off the light · Stage 2
- fuku o kigaeruchange clothes, get changed · Stage 3
- koe ga kikoeruhear a voice; (on a call) can hear someone · Stage 2
- aji ga koistrongly seasoned, rich · Stage 3
- kata ga koruhave stiff shoulders · Stage 1
- shitsumon ni kotaeruanswer a question · Stage 1
- onaka o kowasuget an upset stomach · Stage 2
- hi ga kureruit gets dark (evening) · Stage 3
- taichou o kuzusuget run down, fall ill · Stage 2
- michi o machigaerugo the wrong way · Stage 3
- shiai ni makerulose a match · Stage 3
- yakusoku o mamorukeep a promise · Stage 4
- densha ni maniaumake the train in time · Stage 2
- junban o matsuwait your turn · Stage 4
- michi ni mayouget lost · Stage 3
- ha o migakubrush your teeth · Stage 1
- shigoto ga mitsukarufind a job · Stage 4
- moto ni modosuput back (as it was) · Stage 3
- nimotsu o motsucarry the bags · Stage 3
- semi ga nakucicadas sing, buzz · Stage 4
- shuuden ga nakunaruthe last train is gone (no way home) · Stage 2
- kaze ga naoruget over a cold · Stage 2
- piano o narautake piano lessons · Stage 1
- fuku ga niausuit someone, look good on someone · Stage 3
- eki o norisugosumiss your stop · Stage 3
- kuruma ni noserugive someone a lift · Stage 3
- shiken ni ochirufail an exam · Stage 4
- gohan o ogorutreat someone to a meal · Stage 2
- jishin ga okiruan earthquake happens, hits · Stage 2
- nimotsu ga omoithe bags are heavy · Stage 3
- koe ga ookiihave a loud voice, be loud · Stage 1
- densha o oriruget off the train · Stage 1
- okane o orosuwithdraw cash · Stage 4
- kaeri ga osoiget home late · Stage 1
- shigoto ga owaruget off work · Stage 1
- netsu ga sagarufever goes down · Stage 2
- shigoto o sagasulook for a job · Stage 4
- hana ga sakuflowers bloom, come out · Stage 4
- kasa o sasuput up (open) an umbrella; have an umbrella up · Stage 1
- semai heyaa small, cramped room · Stage 4
- netto de shiraberulook something up online · Stage 4
- hi ga shizumuthe sun sets, goes down · Stage 3
- kodomo o sodateruraise children, bring up kids · Stage 2
- hige o sorushave (your face) · Stage 1
- onaka ga sukuget hungry · Stage 1
- gomi o suteruthrow away rubbish · Stage 3
- tabako o suusmoke (a cigarette) · Stage 3
- gohan o taberueat, have a meal · Stage 2
- sutoresu ga tamaruget stressed, stress builds up · Stage 4
- okane ga tarinaibe short of money · Stage 1
- fuku o tatamufold clothes · Stage 4
- keikaku o taterumake a plan · Stage 4
- nimotsu ga todokua package arrives, gets delivered · Stage 4
- me o tojiruclose your eyes · Stage 4
- mondai o tokusolve a question, do problems · Stage 3
- hoteru ni tomarustay at a hotel · Stage 3
- kuruma o tomerupark the car · Stage 3
- tsukare ga torerushake off tiredness, feel rested · Stage 2
- jikan o tsubusukill time · Stage 4
- yuki ga tsumorusnow settles, lies on the ground · Stage 4
- netto ga tsunagaruthe internet connects, works · Stage 4
- karada o ugokasuget some exercise, move your body · Stage 4
- aidea ga ukabuan idea comes to mind · Stage 4
- shiken ni ukarupass an exam · Stage 4
- shiken o ukerutake an exam · Stage 4
- kodomo ga umareruhave a baby · Stage 2
- aji ga usuilightly seasoned; bland (needs more salt) · Stage 3
- uta o utausing a song · Stage 1
- kaze ga utsurucatch someone's cold · Stage 2
- oyu o wakasuboil water · Stage 3
- jikkan ga wakuit sinks in, feels real · Stage 4
- pan o yakutoast bread; bake bread · Stage 4
- ame ga yamuthe rain stops · Stage 1
- shigoto o yasumutake time off work, miss work · Stage 3
- hon o yomuread a book · Stage 1
- konbini ni yorustop by the convenience store · Stage 3