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JAPANESE VERB

うかがう

伺う

to ask, humbly

  • #496 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 ask
NegativeI don’t ask

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI asked
NegativeI didn’t ask

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formasking, and…
Doing now (て います)I am asking
Please (て ください)please ask

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can ask
NegativeI can’t ask

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s ask

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am asked
CausativeI make someone ask

How to use うかがう

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

  1. Present and future

    ひとつ うかがいます が、 えき は どちら です か？

    May I ask, which way is the station?

  2. Past

    きのう、 せんせい の おたく に うかがいました。

    Yesterday I called at the teacher's home.

  3. Te-form

    さとう さん に うかがって みます。

    I'll ask Mrs. Sato.

  4. Potential

    おなまえ を うかがえます か？

    May I ask your name?

  5. Want to

    すこし おはなし を うかがいたい の です が。

    I'd like to hear a little of what you have to say.

  6. Volitional

    あした、 おたく に うかがいましょう か？

    Shall I come to your home tomorrow?

  7. Conditional

    あした うかがえば、 おあい できます か？

    If I come tomorrow, can I see you?

  8. Commands and requests

    わからなければ、 せんせい に うかがいなさい。

    If you don't understand, ask the teacher.

  9. Passive and causative

    あした の ごご、 うかがわせて いただきます。

    I will come by tomorrow afternoon, if I may.

Good to know

  • うかがう is also the humble to visit: あした おたく に うかがいます.

Where you hear うかがう

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

Japanese · Intermediate Level 1

  • わからない とき は、 せんせい に うかがいます。 When I don't understand, I ask the teacher.
  • やど の かた に みち を うかがいました。 I asked someone at the inn for directions.
  • あした、 もう いちど うかがいます。 I'll ask again tomorrow.
24
A Word with Her Father

Intermediate Level 1 · うかがいたくて

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Where and When?

Intermediate Level 1 · うかがいたい

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Verbs like this one

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