Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI get lost | ||
| NegativeI don’t get lost |
JAPANESE VERB
まよう
迷う
to get lost
- #224 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 got lost | ||
| NegativeI didn’t get lost |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formgetting lost, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am getting lost | ||
| Please (て ください)please get lost |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can get lost | ||
| NegativeI can’t get lost |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to get lost | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to get lost |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s get lost |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I get lost
- If, when (たら) if I get lost
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) get lost (do it)
- Plain command get lost!
- Please don’t please don’t get lost
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am gotten lost | ||
| CausativeI make someone get lost |
How to use まよう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
この へん は いつも みち に まよいます。
I always get lost around here.
-
Past
しんじゅく えき で まよいました。
I got lost in Shinjuku station.
-
Te-form
すみません、 みち に まよって しまいました。
Excuse me, I've got lost.
-
Potential
みち に まよって も、 スマホ で かえれます。
Even if I get lost, I can get home with my phone.
-
Want to
まよいたく ない から、 タクシー で いきます。
I don't want to get lost, so I'll go by taxi.
-
Volitional
まよう まえ に、 ひと に きこう。
Let's ask someone before we get lost.
-
Conditional
まよったら、 こうばん で きいて ください。
If you get lost, ask at the police box.
-
Commands and requests
まよわないで、 すき な ほう を えらびなさい。
Don't dither, pick the one you like.
-
Passive and causative
ふくざつ な ちず が かんこうきゃく を まよわせます。
Complicated maps get tourists lost.
Good to know
- みち に まよう is to lose your way; まよう alone is also to hesitate between choices.
- Nobody can decide to get lost, so the potential and volitional sentences show まよう beside another verb.
Where you hear まよう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- とうきょう で よく みち に まよいます。 I often get lost in Tokyo.
- みち に まよいました。 I got lost.
- ひとり で いきます。 たぶん、 みち に まよいます。 I'll go on my own. I'll probably get lost.
Japanese · Beginner Level 3
- まだ まよって います。 I'm still torn.
- ながい あいだ まよいました。 I was torn for a long time.
- もう まよいません。 I won't hesitate any more.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).