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JAPANESE VERB

ぬる

塗る

to paint, to spread on

  • #358 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 paint
NegativeI don’t paint

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI painted
NegativeI didn’t paint

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formpainting, and…
Doing now (て います)I am painting
Please (て ください)please paint

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can paint
NegativeI can’t paint

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s paint

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am painted
CausativeI make someone paint

How to use ぬる

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

  1. Present and future

    パン に バター を たっぷり ぬります。

    I spread plenty of butter on the bread.

  2. Past

    しゅうまつ に へや の かべ を しろく ぬった。

    At the weekend I painted the bedroom walls white.

  3. Te-form

    ひやけどめ を ぬって から、 でかけて ね。

    Put on sunscreen before you go out.

  4. Potential

    この ペンキ は き の うえ に も ぬれます か。

    Can this paint go on wood too?

  5. Want to

    げんかん の ドア を あおく ぬりたい。

    I want to paint the front door blue.

  6. Volitional

    やけど に この くすり を ぬろう。

    Let's put this ointment on the burn.

  7. Conditional

    にかい ぬれば、 いろ が きれい に でる。

    If you put on two coats, the colour comes out nicely.

  8. Commands and requests

    くちびる に リップ を ぬりなさい。 かさかさ だ よ。

    Put some lip balm on; your lips are chapped.

  9. Passive and causative

    いもうと に かお に クリーム を ぬられて、 おきた。

    I woke up with my sister smearing cream on my face.

Good to know

  • ぬる is to spread something on a surface: paint on a wall, butter on bread, cream on your skin. A picture is かく.

Where you hear ぬる

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 2

  • なつ は まいにち ひやけどめ を ぬる。 In summer I put sunscreen on every day.
  • ベン の せなか に くすり を ぬった。 I put some cream on Ben's back.
  • あした は ちゃんと ひやけどめ を ぬる。 Tomorrow I'll put sunscreen on properly.
29
Okinawa

Intermediate Level 2 · ぬった

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Verbs like this one

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