Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI buy | ||
| NegativeI don’t buy |
JAPANESE VERB
かう
買う
to buy
- #17 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 bought | ||
| NegativeI didn’t buy |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbuying, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am buying | ||
| Please (て ください)please buy |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can buy | ||
| NegativeI can’t buy |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to buy | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to buy |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s buy |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I buy
- If, when (たら) if I buy
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) buy (do it)
- Plain command buy!
- Please don’t please don’t buy
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am bought | ||
| CausativeI make someone buy |
How to use かう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
やさい は いつも あの みせ で かいます。
I always buy vegetables at that shop.
-
Past
あさくさ で おせんべい を かいました。
I bought rice crackers in Asakusa.
-
Te-form
かえり に ぎゅうにゅう を かって きて ください。
Please pick up some milk on your way home.
-
Potential
きっぷ は どこ で かえます か。
Where can I buy tickets?
-
Want to
あたらしい じてんしゃ を かいたい です。
I want to buy a new bike.
-
Volitional
おかあさん に はな を かおう。
Let's buy Mum some flowers.
-
Conditional
ふたつ かえば、 やすく なります よ。
If you buy two, it's cheaper.
-
Commands and requests
いらない もの を かわないで。
Don't buy things you don't need.
-
Passive and causative
むすこ に じぶん で きっぷ を かわせました。
I had my son buy his own ticket.
Good to know
- Where you buy takes で: コンビニ で みず を かいます.
Where you hear かう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- まいあさ コンビニ で コーヒー を かいます。 I buy coffee at the convenience store every morning.
- ゆい さん に プレゼント を かいました。 I bought a present for Yui.
- あした おみやげ を かいます。 Tomorrow I'll buy souvenirs.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- いつも コンビニ で みず を かいます。 I always buy water at the convenience store.
- きのう、 れいぞうこ と せんたくき を かいました。 Yesterday I bought a fridge and a washing machine.
- あした いっしょに ほんだな を かいましょう。 Let's buy a bookshelf together tomorrow.
25
A Day on Enoshima
Needs a subscription
8
Beginner Level 1 · かいました · かいませんでした。
Moving Day
Needs a subscription
19
Beginner Level 2 · かいましょう
A Weekend Away
Needs a subscription
24
Beginner Level 2 · かい に
The Typhoon
Needs a subscription
14
Beginner Level 2 · かって おきます · かって おいて ください
Cherry Blossoms
Needs a subscription
1
Beginner Level 3 · かって おきました
Just Talk Normally
Free
2
Intermediate Level 1 · かう
Futsal
Free
3
Intermediate Level 1 · かわない
Monday Morning
Needs a subscription
16
Intermediate Level 1 · かった
Welcome Home
Needs a subscription
19
Intermediate Level 1 · かった ばかり な ん だ。
The Big Clean
Needs a subscription
22
Intermediate Level 1 · かわなきゃ · かって おいた
The Ring
Needs a subscription
1
Intermediate Level 1 · かっちゃった。
Sota Moves In
Free
Intermediate Level 2 · かえば
And 2 more lessons.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).