JAPANESE VERB

きく

聞く

to listen

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Say it firstHide the forms and test yourself

now, habits, and what is to come

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI listen
NegativeI don’t listen

finished actions

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI listened
NegativeI didn’t listen

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

可能形 · “can”

Form	Polite	Plain
AffirmativeI can listen
NegativeI can’t listen

たい形 · “want to”

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

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form	Polite	Plain
Let’slet’s listen

条件形 · “if” and “when”

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Form	Polite	Plain
PassiveI am listened
CausativeI make someone listen

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

Present and future

あさはラジオを ききます。

In the morning I listen to the radio.
Past

せんせいにしゅくだいのことを ききました。

I asked the teacher about the homework.
Te-form

よく きいて ください。いちどしかいいません。

Listen carefully. I'll only say it once.
Potential

はずかしくて、なまえをきけませんでした。

I was too shy to ask her name.
Want to

ベンさんのいけんを ききたい です。

I'd like to hear your opinion, Ben.
Volitional

わからないから、えきいんに きこう。

We don't know, let's ask the station staff.
Conditional

このおんがくを きけば、おちつきます。

If I listen to this music, I calm down.
Commands and requests

ひとのはなしをさいごまで ききなさい。

Listen to people until they've finished.
Passive and causative

えきでがいこくじんにみちをきかれました。

At the station a foreigner asked me the way.