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JAPANESE VERB

みがく

磨く

to brush, to polish

  • #384 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 brush
NegativeI don’t brush

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI brushed
NegativeI didn’t brush

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formbrushing, and…
Doing now (て います)I am brushing
Please (て ください)please brush

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can brush
NegativeI can’t brush

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s brush

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am brushed
CausativeI make someone brush

How to use みがく

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

  1. Present and future

    しょくご に かならず は を みがきます。

    I always brush my teeth after meals.

  2. Past

    めんせつ の まえ に、 くつ を ぴかぴか に みがいた。

    Before the interview I polished my shoes till they shone.

  3. Te-form

    ねる まえ に は を みがいて ね。

    Brush your teeth before bed, OK?

  4. Potential

    は が いたくて、 ちゃんと みがけない。

    My tooth hurts, so I can't brush properly.

  5. Want to

    にほんご を もっと みがきたい。

    I want to polish my Japanese more.

  6. Volitional

    おきゃくさん が くる から、 まど を みがこう。

    Guests are coming, so let's polish the windows.

  7. Conditional

    まいにち みがけば、 は は しろく なる。

    If you brush every day, your teeth will get white.

  8. Commands and requests

    あまい もの を たべたら、 は を みがきなさい。

    Once you've eaten sweets, brush your teeth.

  9. Passive and causative

    はいしゃ で は を きれい に みがかれた。

    The dentist gave my teeth a thorough clean.

Good to know

  • は を みがく is to brush your teeth; くつ を みがく to polish shoes; うで を みがく to hone your skills.

Verbs like this one

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