100 Most Common Japanese Verbs: A Basic Verb List for Beginners

Meta description: Learn 100 essential Japanese verbs with kanji, hiragana, romaji, meanings, verb groups, conjugation tips, and natural example sentences for beginners.

This list targets the searches “most common Japanese verbs,” “basic Japanese verbs list,” and “Japanese verbs for beginners.” It is a practical learning list rather than a strict corpus ranking: the goal is to give beginners the verbs they are most likely to need in daily conversation, travel, study, and work.

Japanese verbs in 60 seconds

Japanese does not change the verb according to the subject. The same form can mean “I eat,” “you eat,” or “they eat”; context normally tells you who is doing the action.

私は毎朝パンを食べます。
Watashi wa maiasa pan o tabemasu.
I eat bread every morning.

田中さんもパンを食べます。
Tanaka-san mo pan o tabemasu.
Mr./Ms. Tanaka also eats bread.

100 basic Japanese verbs for beginners

The table shows the dictionary form, reading, romaji, basic meaning, and verb group. Long vowels are marked with a macron in romaji, as in benkyō.

The 20 verbs to learn first

If you are just starting, prioritize these twenty:

Five forms that make the list usable

The て-form connects actions, makes requests with ください, and combines with grammar such as 〜ています.

朝ごはんを食べて、学校に行きます。
Asagohan o tabete, gakkō ni ikimasu.
I eat breakfast and go to school.

ここに名前を書いてください。
Koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name here.

Important verb pairs beginners confuse

ある vs いる

Both can mean “there is/are” or “to have.” Use いる for people and animals, and ある for objects, plants, events, and abstract things. Read the full guide: aru vs iru in Japanese.

机の上に本があります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
There is a book on the desk.

庭に猫がいます。
Niwa ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat in the garden.

行く vs 来る

行く (iku) means movement away from the current or chosen reference point; 来る (kuru) means movement toward it. English “come” does not always translate as 来る. Read iku vs kuru.

開ける vs 開く

開ける is transitive: someone opens something. 開く is intransitive: something opens.

窓を開けます。
Mado o akemasu.
I open the window.

窓が開きます。
Mado ga akimasu.
The window opens.

知る vs 分かる

知る focuses on obtaining or possessing information. 分かる focuses on understanding. In everyday Japanese, “I know” is often 知っています rather than 知ります.

その人を知っています。
Sono hito o shitte imasu.
I know that person.

この文法が分かります。
Kono bunpō ga wakarimasu.
I understand this grammar.

15 natural example sentences using basic Japanese verbs

毎朝六時に起きます。
Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu.
I get up at six every morning.

コーヒーを飲みません。
Kōhī o nomimasen.
I do not drink coffee.

週末に友達と映画を見ました。
Shūmatsu ni tomodachi to eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie with a friend on the weekend.

先生に質問をします。
Sensei ni shitsumon o shimasu.
I ask the teacher a question.

駅で母を待っています。
Eki de haha o matte imasu.
I am waiting for my mother at the station.

日本語を勉強しています。
Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.
I am studying Japanese.

この漢字を覚えてください。
Kono kanji o oboete kudasai.
Please remember this kanji.

傘を忘れました。
Kasa o wasuremashita.
I forgot my umbrella.

来年、日本へ旅行します。
Rainen, Nihon e ryokō shimasu.
I will travel to Japan next year.

ホテルを予約しました。
Hoteru o yoyaku shimashita.
I booked a hotel.

右に曲がってください。
Migi ni magatte kudasai.
Please turn right.

電車を降りて、十分歩きます。
Densha o orite, juppun arukimasu.
Get off the train and walk for ten minutes.

今日は家で休みます。
Kyō wa ie de yasumimasu.
I will rest at home today.

料理を作るのが好きです。
Ryōri o tsukuru no ga suki desu.
I like cooking.

もっと自然に話せるようになりたいです。
Motto shizen ni hanaseru yō ni naritai desu.
I want to become able to speak more naturally.

A seven-day study plan

Common beginner mistakes

1. Assuming every verb ending in る is a Group 2 verb

Many る-verbs are Group 2, but common exceptions such as 帰る, 入る, 走る, 知る, and 要る are Group 1.

2. Translating English word order directly

The basic neutral pattern is usually topic + object + verb, and the verb normally comes at the end.

3. Dropping particles at random

Conversation sometimes omits particles, but beginners should first learn reliable patterns such as NをV, placeでV, destinationに/へ行く, and personに会う.

4. Treating romaji as the final goal

Romaji is a bridge. Move toward reading kana as soon as possible because conjugation patterns are much clearer in Japanese script.

FAQ

How many Japanese verbs should a beginner know?

There is no official required number. A focused set of 50–100 high-utility verbs is enough to build many beginner conversations, especially when you can use their polite, negative, past, and て-forms.

What are the two irregular Japanese verbs?

The two core irregular verbs are する (to do) and 来る (to come). Noun + する verbs follow the conjugation of する.

Is 行く irregular?

行く is a Group 1 verb, but its て-form and plain past are exceptional: 行って and 行った, not 行いて or 行いた.

Should I learn dictionary form or ます-form first?

Learn both together. The ます-form is immediately useful for polite conversation, while the dictionary form is necessary for dictionaries and many grammar patterns.

Summary

Related guides

Aru vs Iru: Which Japanese “There Is” Verb Should You Use?
Iku vs Kuru: The Japanese Difference Between “Go” and “Come”
What Does Suru Mean? Common Suru Verbs and Uses
What Does Dekiru Mean? How to Say “Can” in Japanese

References

Japan Foundation, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan (Irodori Grammar Notes), Grammar Notes and beginner teaching materials. Example sentences in this article are original.