Japanese Dictionary Form Made Easy｜Group 1 Verbs: i → u
How to Make the Japanese Dictionary Form｜Group 1 Verbs: i → u
Are Japanese Group 1 verbs difficult to change into the dictionary form?
You are not alone.
In a recent beginner lesson, one of my students was practicing the dictionary form. The difficult part was changing a Group 1 verb from the ます-form.
So instead of looking only at hiragana, we also wrote the sounds in Roman letters.
Then the pattern became much easier to see:
Let’s look at how it works.
What Is the Dictionary Form?
The dictionary form is the basic form of a Japanese verb — the form you usually find in a dictionary.
かきます → かく
to write
のみます → のむ
to drink
はなします → はなす
to speak
You need the dictionary form for many Japanese grammar patterns, so it is an important step for beginners.
Group 1: First, Remove ます
For a Group 1 verb, first remove ます.
かきます → かき
kakimasu → kaki
のみます → のみ
nomimasu → nomi
はなします → はなし
hanashimasu → hanashi
Now look at the final sound.
The Important Rule: i → u
After you remove ます, a Group 1 verb ends with an i-sound.
Change that final i-sound to the matching u-sound.
ぎ gi → ぐ gu
し shi → す su
ち chi → つ tsu
に ni → ぬ nu
び bi → ぶ bu
み mi → む mu
り ri → る ru
い i → う u
You do not need to memorize a completely new verb. Try to look at the last sound and move it from the i-row to the u-row.
Example 1: かきます → かく
かきます → かき → かく
kakimasu → kaki → kaku
ki → ku
to write
Remove ます. The last sound is き (ki), so change ki → ku.
Example 2: のみます → のむ
のみます → のみ → のむ
nomimasu → nomi → nomu
mi → mu
to drink
The last sound is み (mi), so change mi → mu.
Example 3: はなします → はなす
はなします → はなし → はなす
hanashimasu → hanashi → hanasu
shi → su
to speak
The last sound is し (shi), so change shi → su.
More Group 1 Examples
よみます → よむ
yomimasu → yomu
to read
かいます → かう
kaimasu → kau
to buy
まちます → まつ
machimasu → matsu
to wait
のります → のる
norimasu → noru
to ride
およぎます → およぐ
oyogimasu → oyogu
to swim
Important!
This i → u rule is for Group 1 verbs.
Group 2 verbs and irregular verbs change differently.
For example:
たべます → たべる
Group 2: to eat
みます → みる
Group 2: to see / watch
します → する
Irregular: to do
きます → くる
Irregular: to come
This article focuses on verbs that you already know are Group 1 verbs.
Why Do I Need the Dictionary Form?
The dictionary form is useful because many grammar patterns begin with it.
For example, in this lesson we practiced:
This means:
I like doing ～
えを かくのが すきです。
I like drawing pictures.
ホラーゲームを みるのが すきです。
I like watching horror games.
Learning the dictionary form is not only a grammar exercise.
It gives you more ways to talk about your hobbies, plans, experiences, and things you like to do.
Practice: Can You Make the Dictionary Form?
All of the verbs in Questions 1–8 are Group 1 verbs.
Change each verb from the ます-form to the dictionary form.
1. のみます → ?
Check the answer
のむ
nomimasu → nomu
mi → mu
2. かきます → ?
Check the answer
かく
kakimasu → kaku
ki → ku
3. はなします → ?
Check the answer
はなす
hanashimasu → hanasu
shi → su
4. よみます → ?
Check the answer
よむ
yomimasu → yomu
mi → mu
5. かいます → ?
Check the answer
かう
kaimasu → kau
i → u
6. まちます → ?
Check the answer
まつ
machimasu → matsu
chi → tsu
7. のります → ?
Check the answer
のる
norimasu → noru
ri → ru
8. およぎます → ?
Check the answer
およぐ
oyogimasu → oyogu
gi → gu
Now use the dictionary form in a sentence.
9. Complete the sentence.
わたしは えを ______ のが すきです。
I like drawing pictures.
かきます → ?
Check the answer
わたしは えを かくのが すきです。
かきます → かく
10. Complete the sentence.
わたしは ほんを ______ のが すきです。
I like reading books.
よみます → ?
Check the answer
わたしは ほんを よむのが すきです。
よみます → よむ
Remember This One Idea
If Group 1 dictionary forms feel difficult, you do not have to memorize everything at once.
Start with one simple idea:
Remove ます
i → u
Look at the final sound, and change it to the matching u-sound.
Sometimes one small visual rule can make Japanese grammar much easier to understand.
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