Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI catch | ||
| NegativeI don’t catch |
JAPANESE VERB
ひく
引く
to catch, a cold
- #170 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI caught | ||
| NegativeI didn’t catch |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formcatching, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am catching | ||
| Please (て ください)please catch |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can catch | ||
| NegativeI can’t catch |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to catch | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to catch |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s catch |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I catch
- If, when (たら) if I catch
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) catch (do it)
- Plain command catch!
- Please don’t please don’t catch
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am caught | ||
| CausativeI make someone catch |
How to use ひく
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ふゆ は いつも かぜ を ひきます。
In winter I always catch colds.
-
Past
ベン は ひどい かぜ を ひいた。
Ben caught a terrible cold.
-
Te-form
むすこ が かぜ を ひいて、 がっこう を やすんだ。
My son caught a cold and stayed home from school.
-
Potential
いま は だいじな じき だ から、 かぜ を ひけない。
It's a crucial time, so I can't afford to catch a cold.
-
Want to
けっこんしき の まえ に、 かぜ は ひきたくない。
I don't want to catch a cold before the wedding.
-
Volitional
あした は しけん。 いっそ かぜ を ひこう か な。
Exam tomorrow. Maybe I'll just catch a cold.
-
Conditional
かぜ を ひいたら、 あたたかく して ねて ね。
If you catch a cold, keep warm and sleep.
-
Commands and requests
うすぎ で でかけて、 かぜ を ひかないで ください。
Please don't go out in thin clothes and catch a cold.
-
Passive and causative
だいじな とき に おっと に かぜ を ひかれた。
My husband went and caught a cold at the worst possible time.
Good to know
- かぜ を ひく, to catch a cold: the same ひく is to pull, and to play the piano or guitar.
Where you hear ひく
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- かぜ を ひく と、 たいへん だ よ。 It's hard when you catch a cold.
- きょねん、 かぜ を ひいた。 Last year I caught a cold.
- かぜ を ひかない よう に、 あした も コート を きる。 I'll wear a coat tomorrow too, so I don't catch a cold.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).