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JAPANESE VERB

きく

聞く

to ask

  • #21 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 ask
NegativeI don’t ask

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI asked
NegativeI didn’t ask

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formasking, and…
Doing now (て います)I am asking
Please (て ください)please ask

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can ask
NegativeI can’t ask

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s ask

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am asked
CausativeI make someone ask

How to use きく

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

  1. Present and future

    わからない こと は すぐ せんせい に ききます。

    When I don't understand, I ask the teacher right away.

  2. Past

    えき で みち を きいた。

    I asked the way at the station.

  3. Te-form

    ちょっと てんいん に きいて みる ね。

    I'll just go and ask the shop assistant.

  4. Potential

    はずかしくて、 なまえ が きけなかった。

    I was too shy to ask her name.

  5. Want to

    さとう さん に ひとつ ききたい こと が ある。

    There's one thing I want to ask Mrs. Sato.

  6. Volitional

    わからなかったら、 ベン に きこう。

    If we don't get it, let's ask Ben.

  7. Conditional

    きけば、 おしえて くれる よ。

    If you ask, he'll tell you.

  8. Commands and requests

    ねだん は きかないで ください。

    Please don't ask the price.

  9. Passive and causative

    しらない ひと に みち を きかれた。

    A stranger asked me for directions.

Good to know

  • The same きく is to listen: みち を きく is to ask the way, おんがく を きく to listen to music.

Where you hear きく

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 1

  • わからない とき は けんた に きく。 When I don't know something, I ask Kenta.
  • おかあさん に サイズ を きいた。 I asked Mum the size.
  • あした、 じんじゃ に きく。 Tomorrow I'll ask the shrine.
11
Mrs. Sato's Back

Intermediate Level 1 · きかないで

Needs a subscription 23
A Secret Mission

Intermediate Level 1 · きけば

Needs a subscription 24
A Word with Her Father

Intermediate Level 1 · きいて みる

Needs a subscription 27
Telling the Families

Intermediate Level 1 · きいてる

Needs a subscription

Verbs like this one

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