18 Common Japanese Verbs to Describe Activities

The verbs　（Doshi/どうし・動詞）Part 2

Below are possible activities I or you may take, which outlined, just a general idea. When we describe what to do, we use the verb + masu form.

A. The verb + masu. For example, to pray, we say “Inori masu”

B. The object o verb + masu. For example, to sing a song, we say uta o utai masu.

TO PRAY

いのります・祈ります

Inorimasu
TO DO EXERCISE

うんどうをする・運動をする

Undo o shimasu
TO STROLL

さんぽします・散歩します

Sanpo shimasu
TO RUN

はしります・走ります

Hashirimasu
TO SING A SONG

うたをうたいます・歌を唄います

Uta o utaimasu
TO DANCE

おどります・踊ります

Odorimasu
TO DRIVE A CAR　

くるまをうんてんします・車を運転します

Kuruma o unten shimasu
TO RIDE A BUS

ばすにのります・バスに乗ります

Basu ni norimasu
TO PHONE /MAKE A PHONE CALL　

でんわします・電話します

Denwa shimasu
TO GO TO HAWAII　

はわいにいきます・ハワイに　行きます

Hawai ni ikimasu
TO SWIM　

およぎます・泳ぎます

Oyogimasu
TO TAKE A PHOTO　

しゃしんをとります・写真を　とります

Shashin o torimasu
TO COOK 　

りょうりします・料理します

Ryouri shimasu
TO PLAY A GUITAR/PIANO　

ぎたー・ぴあのをひきます・ギター・ピアノを弾きます

gita/piano o hikimasu
TO BUY FLOWERS　

はなをかいます・花を買います

Hana o kaimasu
TO MAKE A MUSIC SHEET　

がくふをつくります。楽譜を作ります　

Gakufu o tukurimasu
TO THINK

かんがえます・考えます

Kangaemasu
TO LEARN MUSIC SYMBOLS

おんぷをまなびます・音符を学びます　

Onpu o manabimasu

The above verbs are all positive tenses, to make negative form, for example , do not eat, we say tabemasen. Replace “masu” to “masen”.

POSITIVE TENSE	NEGATIVE TENSE
EAT tabe masu たべます	DO NOT EAT tabe masen　たべません

The same systematic way is adapted for other verbs.

For the next blog I will cover how to make a past tense as well.

Hope you learn something new today!! Thank you for watching.

About mkchatinjapanese

I am a native Japanese who teaches Japanese to non-Japanese speaker as a private tutor. Teach from a beginner to Intermediate level. location in London.

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