Skip to content
fluentbyear

JAPANESE VERB

なおる

治る

to get better, to be fixed

  • #111 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 get better
NegativeI don’t get better

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI got better
NegativeI didn’t get better

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formgetting better, and…
Doing now (て います)I am getting better
Please (て ください)please get better

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can get better
NegativeI can’t get better

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to get better
NegativeI don’t want to get better

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s get better

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am gotten better
CausativeI make someone get better

How to use なおる

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

  1. Present and future

    この かぜ は なかなか なおりません。

    This cold just won't go away.

  2. Past

    こわれた じてんしゃ は もう なおった。

    The broken bicycle is already fixed.

  3. Te-form

    けが は だいぶ なおって きました。

    The injury has healed quite a bit.

  4. Potential

    あし が なおる まで、 はしれません。

    Until my leg heals, I can't run.

  5. Want to

    しあい まで に はやく なおりたい。

    I want to get better quickly before the match.

  6. Volitional

    なおる まで ゆっくり やすもう。

    Let's rest properly until it's healed.

  7. Conditional

    かぜ が なおったら、 また およぎ に いこう。

    When your cold is better, let's go swimming again.

  8. Commands and requests

    なおる まで、 おさけ を のまないで ください。

    Please don't drink until it's healed.

  9. Passive and causative

    この くすり で なおる と いわれました。

    I was told it would get better with this medicine.

Good to know

  • なおる is what the sick person or the broken thing does; なおす is what the doctor or the repairman does.
  • 治る is written for sickness and 直る for broken things; both are said なおる.
  • Getting better is not something you decide, so the potential, volitional, imperative and passive sentences show なおる beside another verb.

Verbs like this one

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