{"id":1785,"date":"2009-11-03T05:57:29","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T07:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=1785"},"modified":"2026-08-15T14:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T17:32:32","slug":"form-you-verbs-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/forma-te-dos-verbos-em-japones\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u3066 form in Japanese: conjugation, table, and uses"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE \u3066 form in Japanese<\/strong> \u2014 also called shape you<\/em> \u2014 connects the verb to other words and structures. It appears in requests, sequential actions, ongoing situations, resulting states, permission requests, and many other essential constructions.<\/p>\n\n

An important point: the \u3066 form, by itself, does not indicate past, present, or future<\/strong>. The full meaning depends on what comes after it and the context of the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\"The\n\n

What is the \u3066 form?<\/h2>\n\n

The \u3066 form is a conjugation that makes the verb ready to connect to the rest of the clause. Think of it as a \u201cbridge\u201d: the conjugated verb usually doesn't end the idea but leads to a following action or a grammatical expression.<\/p>\n\n

For example, the verb \u98df\u3079\u308b (taberu<\/em>, to eat) becomes \u98df\u3079\u3066 (tabete<\/em>). From there, we can form \u98df\u3079\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044 (\u201cplease eat\u201d), \u98df\u3079\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059 (\u201cis eating\u201d or \u201chabitually eats\u201d, depending on context), and \u98df\u3079\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b (\u201cmay I eat?\u201d).<\/p>\n\n

Before studying the rules, it's worth reviewing the Verb groups in Japanese<\/a>. The correct ending depends on whether the verb is godan (group 1), ichidan (group 2), or irregular.<\/p>\n\n

How to form the \u3066 form of verbs<\/h2>\n\n

Start with the verb in dictionary form. If you need to review it, check the guide on the informal mood of Japanese verbs<\/a>. Then, apply the rule corresponding to the group and ending.<\/p>\n\n

Godan verbs (group 1)<\/h3>\n\n

In godan verbs, the last syllable determines the change. The table brings together the patterns you need to memorize:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ending<\/th>\nChange<\/th>\nExample<\/th>\n\u3066 form<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u3046, \u3064, \u308b<\/td>\n\u3063\u3066<\/td>\n\u8cb7\u3046 (kau<\/em>, to buy)<\/td>\n\u8cb7\u3063\u3066 (katte<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u3080, \u3076, \u306c<\/td>\n\u3093\u3067<\/td>\n\u98f2\u3080 (nomu<\/em>, to drink)<\/td>\n\u98f2\u3093\u3067 (nonde<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u304f<\/td>\n\u3044\u3066<\/td>\n\u66f8\u304f (kaku<\/em>, to write)<\/td>\n\u66f8\u3044\u3066 (kaite<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u3050<\/td>\n\u3044\u3067<\/td>\n\u6cf3\u3050 (oyogu<\/em>, to swim)<\/td>\n\u6cf3\u3044\u3067 (oyoide<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u3059<\/td>\nshite<\/td>\n\u8a71\u3059 (hanasu<\/em>, to speak)<\/td>\n\u8a71\u3057\u3066 (hanashite<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Important exception:<\/strong> \u884c\u304f (iku<\/em>, to go) ends in \u304f, but its \u3066 form is \u884c\u3063\u3066 (itte<\/em>), not \u884c\u3044\u3066<\/s>.<\/p>\n\n

A useful shortcut is to remember that the \u3066 form follows the same sound pattern as the informal past form: replace \u305f with \u3066 and \u3060 with \u3067. So, \u98f2\u3093\u3060 becomes \u98f2\u3093\u3067 and \u66f8\u3044\u305f becomes \u66f8\u3044\u3066. The shortcut helps with review, but the table above allows you to conjugate directly.<\/p>\n\n

Ichidan verbs (group 2)<\/h3>\n\n

For ichidan verbs, remove the final \u308b and add \u3066:<\/p>\n\n