Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI remember | ||
| NegativeI don’t remember |
JAPANESE VERB
おぼえる
覚える
to remember
- #41 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI remembered | ||
| NegativeI didn’t remember |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formremembering, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am remembering | ||
| Please (て ください)please remember |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can remember | ||
| NegativeI can’t remember |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to remember | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to remember |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s remember |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I remember
- If, when (たら) if I remember
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) remember (do it)
- Plain command remember!
- Please don’t please don’t remember
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am remembered | ||
| CausativeI make someone remember |
How to use おぼえる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
まいにち かんじ を とお おぼえます。
I memorise ten kanji a day.
-
Past
ひらがな を ぜんぶ おぼえました。
I've learned all the hiragana.
-
Te-form
わたし の こと、 おぼえて います か。
Do you remember me?
-
Potential
ながい たんご は なかなか おぼえられません。
I can't seem to remember long words.
-
Want to
にほん の うた を おぼえたい です。
I want to learn a Japanese song.
-
Volitional
まず あいさつ から おぼえよう。
Let's start by learning the greetings.
-
Conditional
これ だけ おぼえれば、 りょこう は だいじょうぶ です。
If you learn just this, you'll be fine on the trip.
-
Commands and requests
あした まで に この たんご を おぼえなさい。
Learn these words by tomorrow.
-
Passive and causative
てんいん に かお を おぼえられました。
The shop clerk remembered my face.
Good to know
- おぼえる is to learn by heart; "I remember it" is おぼえて います.
Where you hear おぼえる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- さいしょ の ひ を よく おぼえて います。 I remember the first day well.
- きょう、 あたらしい ことば を じゅう おぼえました。 Today I learned ten new words.
- あした は もっと おぼえます。 Tomorrow I'll learn more.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- さいしょ の ひ を よく おぼえて います。 I remember the first day well.
- きょう、 あたらしい ことば を じゅう おぼえました。 Today I learned ten new words.
- あした まで に おぼえます。 I'll learn it by tomorrow.
30
The Train to the Airport
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29
Beginner Level 1 · おぼえて · おぼえて います · おぼえて います か？
Autumn Leaves
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3
Beginner Level 2 · おぼえて います か？
I've Decided
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29
Beginner Level 3 · おぼえる
Where and When?
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Intermediate Level 1 · おぼえて て くれた
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).