Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI say | ||
| NegativeI don’t say |
JAPANESE VERB
もうす
申す
to say, humbly
- #498 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 said | ||
| NegativeI didn’t say |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formsaying, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am saying | ||
| Please (て ください)please say |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can say | ||
| NegativeI can’t say |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to say | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to say |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s say |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I say
- If, when (たら) if I say
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) say (do it)
- Plain command say!
- Please don’t please don’t say
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am said | ||
| CausativeI make someone say |
How to use もうす
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
はじめまして、 やまだ と もうします。
How do you do, my name is Yamada.
-
Past
さきほど も もうしました が、 あす は やすみ です。
As I said a moment ago, we're closed tomorrow.
-
Te-form
ちち は いつも そう もうして おります。
My father always says so.
-
Potential
それ に ついて は、 なんとも もうせません。
On that, I really can't say.
-
Want to
ひとこと、 おれい を もうしたい と おもいます。
I'd like to say a word of thanks.
-
Volitional
いま もうした みせ に、 いって みましょう。
Let's try the restaurant I just mentioned.
-
Conditional
しょうじき に もうせば、 すこし たかい と おもいます。
To be honest, I think it's a bit expensive.
-
Commands and requests
せんじつ もうした しょるい を、 わすれないで ください。
Please don't forget the documents I mentioned the other day.
-
Passive and causative
さきほど もうした とおり、 かいぎ は えんき されました。
As I said earlier, the meeting has been postponed.
Good to know
- もうす is いう said of yourself to someone above you: たなか と もうします, "my name is Tanaka"; what they say is おっしゃる.
- もうしわけ ありません, "I'm sorry", and もうしこむ, to apply, come from the same word.
- You only もうす for yourself, so the imperative and passive sentences show it beside another verb.
Where you hear もうす
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- はじめまして。 ベン と もうします。 Nice to meet you. My name is Ben.
- さっき も もうしました が、 らいげつ から はたらけます。 As I said earlier, I can work from next month.
- あした、 きむら さん に おれい を もうします。 Tomorrow I'll give my thanks to Mr. Kimura.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).