If you’re just starting to learn Japanese, verbs are one of the fastest ways to start forming real sentences. This list covers 25 of the most essential and useful Japanese verbs, chosen based on real usage frequency in everyday Japanese.
These 25 verbs cover a huge range of everyday situations, from existence (ある, いる) and motion (行く, 来る) to daily actions (食べる, 作る, 待つ). Bookmark this page and come back to it as your vocabulary grows, or download the free PDF below so you can take the list with you wherever you go.
Each verb comes with its hiragana reading, English meaning, and a beginner-friendly example sentence so you can see it used in context. If you’ve been wondering which verbs are worth memorizing early on, this is a solid place to start.
1. 『する』
- Verb: suru
- Hiragana: する
- Meaning: to do
Example Sentence
宿題をする。
Shukudai o suru.
I do homework.
2. 『なる』
- Verb: naru
- Hiragana: なる
- Meaning: to become
Example Sentence
医者になる。
Isha ni naru.
To become a doctor.
3. 『ある』
- Verb: aru
- Hiragana: ある
- Meaning: to exist (things)
Example Sentence
本がある。
Hon ga aru.
There is a book.
4. 『いる』
- Verb: iru
- Hiragana: いる
- Meaning: to exist (people, animals)
Example Sentence
猫がいる。
Neko ga iru.
There is a cat.
5. 『言う』
- Verb: iu
- Hiragana: いう
- Meaning: to say
Example Sentence
名前を言う。
Namae o iu.
To say one’s name.
6. 『思う』
- Verb: omou
- Hiragana: おもう
- Meaning: to think
Example Sentence
そう思う。
Sou omou.
I think so.
7. 『見る』
- Verb: miru
- Hiragana: みる
- Meaning: to see, to watch
Example Sentence
映画を見る。
Eiga o miru.
I watch a movie.
8. 『来る』
- Verb: kuru
- Hiragana: くる
- Meaning: to come
Example Sentence
友達が来る。
Tomodachi ga kuru.
My friend is coming.
9. 『行く』
- Verb: iku
- Hiragana: いく
- Meaning: to go
Example Sentence
学校に行く。
Gakkou ni iku.
I go to school.
10. 『できる』
- Verb: dekiru
- Hiragana: できる
- Meaning: to be able to, can
Example Sentence
運転ができる。
Unten ga dekiru.
I can drive.
11. 『考える』
- Verb: kangaeru
- Hiragana: かんがえる
- Meaning: to think, to consider
Example Sentence
未来を考える。
Mirai o kangaeru.
I think about the future.
12. 『待つ』
- Verb: matsu
- Hiragana: まつ
- Meaning: to wait
Example Sentence
バスを待つ。
Basu o matsu.
I wait for the bus.
13. 『持つ』
- Verb: motsu
- Hiragana: もつ
- Meaning: to hold, to have
Example Sentence
かばんを持つ。
Kaban o motsu.
I hold a bag.
14. 『わかる』
- Verb: wakaru
- Hiragana: わかる
- Meaning: to understand
Example Sentence
日本語がわかる。
Nihongo ga wakaru.
I understand Japanese.
15. 『聞く』
- Verb: kiku
- Hiragana: きく
- Meaning: to listen, to ask
Example Sentence
音楽を聞く。
Ongaku o kiku.
I listen to music.
16. 『出る』
- Verb: deru
- Hiragana: でる
- Meaning: to leave, to exit
Example Sentence
家を出る。
Ie o deru.
I leave the house.
17. 『入る』
- Verb: hairu
- Hiragana: はいる
- Meaning: to enter
Example Sentence
部屋に入る。
Heya ni hairu.
I enter the room.
18. 『知る』
- Verb: shiru
- Hiragana: しる
- Meaning: to know
Example Sentence
答えを知る。
Kotae o shiru.
I know the answer.
19. 『もらう』
- Verb: morau
- Hiragana: もらう
- Meaning: to receive
Example Sentence
プレゼントをもらう。
Purezento o morau.
I receive a present.
20. 『使う』
- Verb: tsukau
- Hiragana: つかう
- Meaning: to use
Example Sentence
辞書を使う。
Jisho o tsukau.
I use a dictionary.
21. 『作る』
- Verb: tsukuru
- Hiragana: つくる
- Meaning: to make
Example Sentence
ラーメンを作る。
Ramen o tsukuru.
I make ramen.
22. 『違う』
- Verb: chigau
- Hiragana: ちがう
- Meaning: to be different, to be wrong
Example Sentence
それは違う。
Sore wa chigau.
That’s different.
23. 『食べる』
- Verb: taberu
- Hiragana: たべる
- Meaning: to eat
Example Sentence
パンを食べる。
Pan o taberu.
I eat bread.
24. 『飲む』
- Verb: nomu
- Hiragana: のむ
- Meaning: to drink
Example Sentence
水を飲む。
Mizu o nomu.
I drink water.
25. 『会う』
- Verb: au
- Hiragana: あう
- Meaning: to meet
Example Sentence
友達に会う。
Tomodachi ni au.
I meet a friend.
やった🎉
You made it 🎉
You’ve just learned 25 of the most common Japanese verbs, and you’ll start spotting many of them everywhere, from everyday conversations to anime, manga, games, and songs.
These verbs alone are enough to start building simple, useful Japanese sentences. Try using a few of them yourself, or head over to our Beginner Japanese Sentences and see how many you can already understand.
Hungry for more? Check out our Top 25 Japanese Nouns and Top 25 Japanese Particles next, or subscribe below to download the free PDF list and get future vocabulary packs sent straight to your inbox.
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