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fluentbyear

JAPANESE VERB

あく

空く

to be empty, to be free

  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI am empty
NegativeI am not empty

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI was empty
NegativeI was not empty

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formbeing empty, and…
Doing now (て います)I am being empty
Please (て ください)please be empty

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can be empty
NegativeI can’t be empty

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to be empty
NegativeI don’t want to be empty

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s be empty

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I am empty
  2. If, when (たら) if I am empty

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) be empty (do it)
  2. Plain command be empty!
  3. Please don’t please don’t be empty

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
Passive
Causative

How to use あく

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    ごご なら、 じかん が あきます。

    In the afternoon, I've got time free.

  2. Past

    まど ぎわ の せき が あいた。

    A window seat came free.

  3. Te-form

    すみません、 この せき は あいて います か？

    Excuse me, is this seat free?

  4. Potential

    もくようび なら、 ゆうがた が あけます。

    On Thursday, I can have the evening free.

  5. Want to

    て が あきたくて も、 しごと が おわらない。

    Even though I'd like my hands to be free, the work doesn't end.

  6. Volitional

    せき が あこう と あくまい と、 ならぶ しか ない。

    Whether a seat frees up or not, we just have to queue.

  7. Conditional

    て が あけば、 てつだい に いきます。

    If I'm free, I'll come and help.

  8. Commands and requests

    せき よ、 はやく あきなさい、 と いのった。

    "Seat, hurry up and come free," I prayed.

  9. Passive and causative

    むすこ に よてい を いちにち あかせた。

    I had my son keep a day free.

Good to know

  • あく takes が: せき が あく, a seat comes free; て が あく, to be free, with your hands empty. あける is you making something empty or free: よてい を あける.
  • Same kana as あく, to open: ドア が あく. The て-form of both is あいて: あいて います is "it's open" or "it's free".

Where you hear あく

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Advanced Level 1

  • ぶちょう の グラス が、 あいて います よ。 The boss's glass is empty, you know.
  • ぶちょう の グラス が、 また あいた。 The boss's glass was empty again.
  • らいしゅう の どようび は、 おへや が ひとつ あきます。 Next Saturday, one room will be free.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).