Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI learn | ||
| NegativeI don’t learn |
JAPANESE VERB
ならう
習う
to learn
- #142 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 learned | ||
| NegativeI didn’t learn |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formlearning, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am learning | ||
| Please (て ください)please learn |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can learn | ||
| NegativeI can’t learn |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to learn | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to learn |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s learn |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I learn
- If, when (たら) if I learn
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) learn (do it)
- Plain command learn!
- Please don’t please don’t learn
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am learned | ||
| CausativeI make someone learn |
How to use ならう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
しゅう に いっかい、 しょどう を ならいます。
I take calligraphy once a week.
-
Past
こども の とき、 ピアノ を ならいました。
I learned the piano as a child.
-
Te-form
いま、 おちゃ を ならって います。
I'm taking tea ceremony lessons at the moment.
-
Potential
ここ で にほんりょうり を ならえます か。
Can I learn Japanese cooking here?
-
Want to
からて を ならいたい です。
I want to learn karate.
-
Volitional
いっしょ に ギター を ならおう。
Let's learn the guitar together.
-
Conditional
せんせい に ならえば、 はやく じょうず に なります。
If you learn from a teacher, you get good fast.
-
Commands and requests
せんぱい に よく ならいなさい。
Learn well from your seniors.
-
Passive and causative
むすめ に ピアノ を ならわせて います。
I'm having my daughter take piano lessons.
Good to know
- ならう is to learn from a teacher; べんきょう する is to study on your own.
Where you hear ならう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- まいにち にほんご を ならいます。 I learn Japanese every day.
- かまくら で サーフィン を ならいました。 I learned to surf in Kamakura.
- らいねん えいご を ならいます。 Next year I'll learn English.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- まご も えいご を ならって います。 My grandson is learning English too.
- カナダ で すこし にほんご を ならいました。 I learned a little Japanese in Canada.
- らいげつ から かんじ を ならいます。 From next month, I'll learn kanji.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).