Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI work | ||
| NegativeI don’t work |
JAPANESE VERB
きく
効く
to work, to have an effect
- #174 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 worked | ||
| NegativeI didn’t work |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formworking, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am working | ||
| Please (て ください)please work |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can work | ||
| NegativeI can’t work |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to work | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to work |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s work |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I work
- If, when (たら) if I work
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) work (do it)
- Plain command work!
- Please don’t please don’t work
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am worked | ||
| CausativeI make someone work |
How to use きく
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
この くすり は あたま の いたみ に よく ききます。
This medicine works well for headaches.
-
Past
さっき のんだ くすり が きいた。
The medicine I took earlier worked.
-
Te-form
この へや は だんぼう が きいて いる。
The heating is working in this room.
-
Potential
こんな よわい くすり で は、 ねつ に きけない。
Medicine this weak can't work on a fever.
-
Want to
くすり も、 はやく ききたい と おもう の か な？
Does medicine ever wish it could work faster, I wonder?
-
Volitional
きこう が きくまい が、 のんで みる。
Whether it works or not, I'll try taking it.
-
Conditional
くすり が きけば、 ねつ は さがる。
If the medicine works, the fever will come down.
-
Commands and requests
たのむ、 くすり、 はやく きけ！
Come on, medicine, work faster!
-
Passive and causative
この スープ は しょうが を きかせて いる。
This soup has a good kick of ginger.
Good to know
- くすり が きく, the medicine works; だんぼう が きいて いる, the heating is on and doing its job.
Where you hear きく
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- この くすり は よく きく。 This medicine works well.
- はりがみ が きいた。 The sign worked.
- くすり は もうすぐ きく よ。 The medicine will work soon.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).