Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI go home | ||
| NegativeI don’t go home |
JAPANESE VERB
かえる
帰る
to go home
- #24 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 went home | ||
| NegativeI didn’t go home |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgoing home, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am going home | ||
| Please (て ください)please go home |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can go home | ||
| NegativeI can’t go home |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to go home | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to go home |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s go home |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I go home
- If, when (たら) if I go home
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) go home (do it)
- Plain command go home!
- Please don’t please don’t go home
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am gone home | ||
| CausativeI make someone go home |
How to use かえる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
きょう は はやく かえります。
I'm going home early today.
-
Past
ゆうべ は じゅうにじ すぎ に かえった。
Last night I got home after midnight.
-
Te-form
つかれた でしょう。 もう かえって やすんで。
You must be tired. Go home and rest.
-
Potential
しごと が おわらなくて、 まだ かえれません。
I can't finish my work, so I can't go home yet.
-
Want to
おしょうがつ は カナダ に かえりたい、 と ベン が いった。
Ben said he wants to go home to Canada for New Year.
-
Volitional
さむく なって きた。 そろそろ かえろう。
It's getting cold. Let's head home.
-
Conditional
はやく かえれば、 ばんごはん に まにあう よ。
If you go home early, you'll be in time for dinner.
-
Commands and requests
くらく なる まえ に かえりなさい。
Come home before dark.
-
Passive and causative
ぶちょう は みんな を ろくじ に かえらせた。
The department head sent everyone home at six.
Good to know
- かえる, to go home, is godan: かえります, かえって. かえる, to change, is ichidan: かえます, かえて.
- かえる is going back to where you belong, home or your own country; もどる is going back to where you were a moment ago.
Where you hear かえる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- いつも しちじ に うち に かえる。 I always go home at seven.
- ゆうべ は じゅうにじ すぎ に かえった。 Last night I got home after midnight.
- あした は はやく かえる ね。 I'll come home early tomorrow.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).