Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI come true | ||
| NegativeI don’t come true |
JAPANESE VERB
かなう
叶う
to come true, of a dream or a wish
- #242 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 came true | ||
| NegativeI didn’t come true |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formcoming true, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am coming true | ||
| Please (て ください)please come true |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can come true | ||
| NegativeI can’t come true |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to come true | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to come true |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s come true |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I come true
- If, when (たら) if I come true
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) come true (do it)
- Plain command come true!
- Please don’t please don’t come true
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am come true | ||
| CausativeI make someone come true |
How to use かなう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ねがい は いつか かないます。
Wishes come true some day.
-
Past
とうきょう で はたらく ゆめ が かなった。
My dream of working in Tokyo came true.
-
Te-form
ベン さん の ゆめ が やっと かなって、 うれしい です。
Ben's dream has finally come true, and I'm glad.
-
Potential
どりょく すれば、 ゆめ は かなえる。
If you work hard, dreams can come true.
-
Want to
わたし の ねがい も、 はやく かないたい と いって います。
My wish says it wants to come true soon, too.
-
Volitional
ながねん の ゆめ が いま かなおう と して いる。
A long-held dream is about to come true.
-
Conditional
ゆめ が かなったら、 なに を します か？
If your dream comes true, what will you do?
-
Commands and requests
ぼく の ねがい、 どうか かなえ！
My wish, please come true!
-
Passive and causative
この じんじゃ は どんな ねがい も かなわせます。
This shrine makes any wish come true.
Good to know
- The dream is the subject: ゆめ が かなう. Making it come true is かなえる.
Where you hear かなう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 3
- ゆめ は ときどき かないます。 Dreams sometimes come true.
- りゅうがく の ゆめ が かないました。 My dream of studying abroad came true.
- ベン さん の ゆめ も きっと かないます よ。 Your dream will surely come true too, Ben.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- ねがい は いつか かなう。 Wishes come true someday.
- おおきな ねがい が かなった。 My big wish came true.
- ぼく の ゆめ も きっと かなう。 My dream will come true too, I'm sure.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).