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JAPANESE VERB

かむ

噛む

to bite, to chew

  • #413 most used
  • 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 bite
NegativeI don’t bite

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI bit
NegativeI didn’t bite

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formbiting, and…
Doing now (て います)I am biting
Please (て ください)please bite

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can bite
NegativeI can’t bite

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to bite
NegativeI don’t want to bite

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s bite

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am bitten
CausativeI make someone bite

How to use かむ

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

  1. Present and future

    この いぬ は ひと を かみません。

    This dog doesn't bite people.

  2. Past

    ごはん を たべて いる とき、 した を かんだ。

    I bit my tongue while eating.

  3. Te-form

    あかちゃん が おもちゃ を かんで います。

    The baby is chewing on a toy.

  4. Potential

    は が いたくて、 かたい もの が かめません。

    My tooth hurts, I can't chew anything hard.

  5. Want to

    ねむい から、 ガム でも かみたい。

    I'm sleepy, I'd like to chew some gum or something.

  6. Volitional

    はやぐい しないで、 ゆっくり かもう。

    Let's not bolt it down, let's chew slowly.

  7. Conditional

    ひとくち さんじゅっかい かめば、 やせる そう です。

    They say if you chew each bite thirty times, you lose weight.

  8. Commands and requests

    ごはん は よく かみなさい。

    Chew your food well.

  9. Passive and causative

    こうえん で いぬ に て を かまれた。

    I got bitten on the hand by a dog in the park.

Good to know

  • かむ is also to blow your nose: はな を かむ.

Verbs like this one

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