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JAPANESE VERB

よむ

読む

to read

  • #30 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 read
NegativeI don’t read

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI read
NegativeI didn’t read

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formreading, and…
Doing now (て います)I am reading
Please (て ください)please read

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can read
NegativeI can’t read

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

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

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s read

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

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

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

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

Passive and causative

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

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am read
CausativeI make someone read

How to use よむ

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

  1. Present and future

    でんしゃ で いつも ほん を よみます。

    I always read a book on the train.

  2. Past

    この マンガ は もう よんだ。

    I've already read this manga.

  3. Te-form

    すみません、 ここ を よんで くれません か?

    Excuse me, could you read this part for me?

  4. Potential

    カタカナ なら はやく よめます。

    I can read katakana quickly, at least.

  5. Want to

    にほんご の しんぶん を よみたい。

    I want to read a Japanese newspaper.

  6. Volitional

    こんばん は いっしょ に えほん を よもう。

    Let's read a picture book together tonight.

  7. Conditional

    まいにち よめば、 かんじ も おぼえます よ。

    If you read every day, you'll learn the kanji too.

  8. Commands and requests

    こえ に だして よみなさい。

    Read it out loud.

  9. Passive and causative

    この ざっし は わかい ひと に よく よまれて います。

    This magazine is widely read by young people.

Where you hear よむ

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

Japanese · Beginner Level 2

  • でんしゃ で ほん を よみます。 I read books on the train.
  • けいやくしょ を よく よみました。 I read the contract carefully.
  • あした まで に この ほん を よみます。 I'll read this book by tomorrow.

Japanese · Beginner Level 3

  • やすみ の ひ は ほん を よみます。 On my days off, I read books.
  • きのう、 にほんご の ほん を よみました。 Yesterday I read a Japanese book.
  • こんばん、 この ほん を よみます。 Tonight I'll read this book.

And 2 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

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