Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI listen | ||
| NegativeI don’t listen |
JAPANESE VERB
きく
聞く
to listen
- #20 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 listened | ||
| NegativeI didn’t listen |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formlistening, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am listening | ||
| Please (て ください)please listen |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can listen | ||
| NegativeI can’t listen |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to listen | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to listen |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s listen |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I listen
- If, when (たら) if I listen
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) listen (do it)
- Plain command listen!
- Please don’t please don’t listen
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am listened | ||
| CausativeI make someone listen |
How to use きく
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
まいあさ、 ニュース を ききます。
Every morning I listen to the news.
-
Past
ゆうべ、 ラジオ で ふるい うた を きいた。
Last night I listened to old songs on the radio.
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Te-form
でんしゃ の なか で おんがく を きいて いる。
I'm listening to music on the train.
-
Potential
この アプリ で ラジオ が きけます。
You can listen to the radio with this app.
-
Want to
ゆい の はなし を もっと ききたい。
I want to hear more of what Yui has to say.
-
Volitional
まず、 さとう さん の いけん を きこう。
First, let's hear Mrs. Sato's opinion.
-
Conditional
この きょく を きけば、 げんき に なる。
If I listen to this song, I feel better.
-
Commands and requests
ひと の はなし は さいご まで ききなさい。
Listen to people until they've finished.
-
Passive and causative
どうりょう に でんわ を きかれて しまった。
A colleague overheard my phone call.
Good to know
- きこえる is to be audible, with no effort: おと が きこえる; きく is to listen on purpose.
Where you hear きく
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- でんしゃ で おんがく を きく。 I listen to music on the train.
- ゆうべ、 ラジオ を きいた。 I listened to the radio last night.
- あとで その うた を きく。 I'll listen to that song later.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).