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How to Understand Japanese Verbs: Groups, Exceptions, Forms, Conjugations, and Verb Particles

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Particles Dictionary Form て形 た形 ない形

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Group I Dictionary Form for Group I て形 for Group I た形 for Group I ない形 for Group I

Group II Dictionary Form for Group II て形 for Group II た形 for Group II ない形 for Group II

Group III Dictionary Form for Group III て形 for Group III た形 for Group III ない形 for Group III

Group I


Learn Japanese VerbsFirst of all, in Japanese verbs are categorized into three groups. My understanding is that they are categorized by the consonant before ます. Group I verbs have a character ending in “I” before ます. That means い、き、ぎ、び、り、ち、み、し、and に. There is only one に verb which is しに which means to die. It is not included in the Minna No Nihongo book though.

I have arranged the Group I verbs taught in Minna No Nihongo Elementary Japanese I by the character before ます:

いいます (Say)
あいます (meet)
かいます (buy)
すいます (smoke)
あらいます (Wash)
うたいます (sing)
おもいます (think)
つかいます (use)
はらいます (pay)
ならいます (learn)
もらいます (receive)
てつだいます (help (with a task))
いきます (go)
おきます (Put)
かきます (Write, draw, paint)
ききます (hear, listen, ask (someone))
はきます (Wear, put on (clothes, shoes))
ひきます (play (instrument), pull)
つきます (arrive)
あるきます (Walk)
うごきます (move, work )
はたらきま (work)
もっていきます (take something)
つれていきます (take (someone))
ぬぎます (take off (clothes, shoes))
いそぎます (hurry)
およぎます (swim)
あります (have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place)
いります (need, require)
うります (sell)
きります (cut, slice)
ふります (rain)
なります (Become)
のります (ride, get on (train))
しります (get to know)
とります (take, pass, grow old)
おくります (escort, go with)
おわります (finish)
かえります (go home, return)
かかります (take, cost)
つくります (make, produce)
かぶります (put/wear on my head)
さわります (Touch)
すわります (sit down)
とまります (stay (somewhere))
わかります (understand)
わたります (Cross over (a bridge/road))
のぼります (Climb, go up)
まがります (turn (to the right), bend)
はいります (enter (a place), take (a bath))
がんばります (do one’s best)
かします (lend)
けします (turn off)
おします (push, press)
だします (take out, hand in, send)
かえします (give back, return)
おろします (withdraw)
なおします (repair, correct)
なくします (lose)
はなします (speak, talk)
まわします (turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn round, wander around)
おもいだします (remember, recollect)
かちます (win)
まちます (wait)
もちます (hold)
たちます (stand up)
やくにたちます (be useful/helpful)
すみます (be going to live)
のみます (drink, take (medicine))
よみます (read)
やすみます (Rest, take a holiday, take a day off)
あそびます (enjoy oneself, play)
よびます (Call)

Here is Japanese Verbs Group I Organized List Lined Up

Group II


Group II verbs have a character ending in “E” before ます. That means: え、け、げ、め、れ、べ、て、で、ね、and せ. However, with Group II has some います、きます、びます、ります,  and みます verbs should be in Group I because they are IMASU verbs, but they are our first EXCEPTION. The significance of the grouping lies in conjugating them into different forms.

Here is a list of the verbs in Group II that are taught in Minna No Nihongo Elementary Japanese Book I:

います (exist, be (animate), have (a child), stay, be (somewhere))
おしえます (teach, tell (something))
むかえます (go to meet, Welcome)
のりかえます change, Transfer (trains))
きます (put on (clothes))
おきます (get up, wake up)
できます (be able to, can)
みます (see, look at, watch)
でます (change, come out, go out (of someplace))
ねます (sleep, go to bed)
あけます (open)
かけます (make (a phone call), put on (glasses))
まけます (lose, be beaten)
つけます (turn on)
きをつけます (pay attention, be careful, take care)
でかけます (go out)
あげます (Give me)
あびます (take (a shower))
しらべます (check, investigate)
たべます (eat)
いれます (Put in, insert)
うまれます (be born)
つかれます (get tired)
わすれます (Forget)
かえます (change)
たります (be enough, be sufficient)
かります (borrow)
くれます (Give (me))
しめます (close/shut)
とめます (graduate (from University), stop, park)
やめます (quit, retire, stop, give up)
あつめます (collect, gather)
はじめます (start, begin)
すてます (discard, throw away)
みせます (show)

In order to remember which verbs ending in います, きます, びます, or ります which should be in group one but aren’t; remember that You GET UP, TAKE A SHOWER, BORROW a towel, PUT ON A SHIRT, ARE ABLE TO catch your train, GET OFF THE TRAIN, and be glad to BE ALIVE because you can SEE that you have ENOUGH to make you happy  and you can remember the verbs that don’t end in E but are in group two Knowing this will help you to remember which “I”ます verbs do not follow the conjugation rules for group I.
おきます (get up, wake up)
あびます (take (a shower))
かります (borrow)
きます (put on (clothes))
できます (be able to, can)
おります (get off (a train))
います (exist, be (animate), have (a child), stay, be (somewhere))

みます (see, look at, watch)
たります (be enough, be sufficient)

Group III


Group III verbs are mainly します verbs with only a couple きます exception verbs. The verb きます, as well as つれてきます and もってきます, are in Group III. That is a fairly easy exception to remember. To remember that つれてきます and もってきます are in Group III and not つれてきます and もってきます (which mean to take someone/something), remember that きます means to come, and when you are asked to COME somewhere you BRING someone/something with you, but いきます means to go and when you GO (or leave somewhere) you TAKE someone/something with you. きます verbs are in group I.  Group III verbs included in the Minna No Nihongo Elementary Japanese Book are:
あんないします (show around, show the way)
うんてんします (drive)
かいものします (go shopping)
きます (come)
けっこんします (marry, get married)
けんがくします (visit a place to study it, tour)
けんきゅうします (research)
コピーします (copy)
さんぽします (take a walk)
ざんぎゅうします (work overtime)
します (do, play, put on a tie)
しゅうりします (repair)
しゅっちょうします (go on a business trip)
しょうかいします (introduce)
しょくじします (have a meal, dine, eat)
しんぱいします (worry)
せつめいします (explain)
せんたくします (wash (clothes), do laundry )
そうじします (clean)
つれてきます (bring (someone))
でんわします (use phone (call))
べんきょうします (study)
もってきます (bring (something))
よやくします (reserve, book)
りゅうがくします (study abroad)

To remember which します verbs are exceptions and are in Group I rather than Group III, REMEMBER to PUSH the button to make a WITHDRAW and TURN the automatic withdrawal OFF so that you can TAKE OUT the money you need to RETURN to your friend who you LENT money to and who you hardly ever TALK to but are making an attempt to REPAIR your relationship with them before you LOSE them as a friend. Remembering these verbs will help you to know that these verbs follow the conjugation rules for Group I.
おもいだします (remember, recollect)
おします (push, press)
おろします (withdraw)
まわします (turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn around, wander around)
だします (take out, hand in, send)
けします (turn off)
かえします (give back, return)
かします (lend)
はなします (speak, talk)
なおします (repair, correct)
なくします (lose)

Forms & Conjugation

Now for the fun part.

Dictionary Form

also known as 辞書形(じしょけ), is used before the expression ことができます(to be able to) as well as before ことです(when the verb is the last word in a sentence) and before まえに when something is dome before something else. Here is a helpful course to help review the list of verbs in Dictionary Form. Dictionary form conjugation for

Group I

is that the all of the “I”s before ます are turned into “U”s. That means い becomes う、き becomes く、ぎ becomes ぐ、び becomes ぶ、りbecomes る、ち becomes つ、み becomes む、し becomes す、and に becomes ぬ. Remember that certain “I”ます verbs are in group II and do not follow this rule. Click here to review the list of exception verbs in Group II.
あう meet
あそぶ enjoy oneself, play
あらう Wash
ある have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place
あるく Walk
いう Say
いく go
いそぐ hurry
いる need, require
うごく move, work
うたう sing
うる sell
おく Put
おくる escort, go with
おす push, press
おもいだす remember, recollect
おもう think
およぐ swim
おろす withdraw
おわる finish
かう buy
かえす give back, return
かえる go home, return
かかる take, cost
かく Write, draw, paint
かす lend
かつ win
かぶる put/wear on my head
がんばる do one’s best
きく hear, listen, ask (someone)
きる cut, slice
けす turn off
さわる Touch
しる get to know
すう smoke
すむ be going to live
すわる sit down
だす take out, hand in, send
たつ stand up
つかう use
つく arrive
つくる make, produce
つれていく take (someone)
てつだう help (with a task)
とまる stay (somewhere)
とる take, pass, grow old
なおす repair, correct
なくす lose
ならう learn
なる Become
ぬぐ take off (clothes, shoes)
のぼる Climb, go up
のむ drink, take (medicine)
のる ride, get on (train)
はいる enter (a place), take (a bath)
はく Wear, put on (clothes, shoes)
はたらく work
はなす speak, talk
はらう pay
ひく play (instrument), pull
ふる rain
まがる turn (to the right), bend
まつ wait
まわす turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn around, wander around
もつ hold
もっていく take something
もらう receive
やくにたつ be useful/helpful
やすむ Rest, take a holiday, take a day off
よぶ Call
よむ read
わかる understand
わたる Crossover (a bridge/road)

Better Ways to Learn Japanese Fluently

The conjugation for Dictionary Form for verbs in

Group II

works by removing ます and adding る. Remember that there are certain “I”ます verbs in group II. Click here to review the list of exception verbs in Group II.
あける open
あげる Give me
あつめる collect, gather
あびる take (a shower)
いる exist, be (animate), have (a child), stay, be (somewhere)
いれる Put in, insert
うまれる be born
おきる get up, wake up
おしえる teach, tell (something)
おぼえる memorize
おりる get off (a train)
かえる change
かける make (a phone call), put on (glasses)
かりる borrow
かんがえる think, consider
きる put on (clothes)
きをつける pay attention, be careful, take care
くれる Give (me)
しめる close/shut
しらべる check, investigate
すてる discard, throw away
たべる eat
たりる be enough, be sufficient
つかれる get tired
つける turn on
でかける go out
できる be able to, can
でる change, come out
でる go out (of someplace)
とめる graduate (from University), stop, park
ねる sleep, go to bed
のりかえる change, Transfer (trains)
はじめる start, begin
まける lose, be beaten
みせる show
みる see, look at, watch
むかえる go to meet, Welcome
やめる quit, retire, stop, give up
わすれる Forget

The conjugation of Dictionary Form for verbs in

Group III

is a combination of the Dictionary Form conjugation of group one (し becomes す and き becomes く) and る is added on the end. Remember that not all します verbs are in Group III, some are in Group I. Review which します verbs are in Group I.
あんないする show around, show the way
うんてんする drive
かいものする go shopping
くる come
けっこんする marry, get married
けんがくする visit a place to study it, tour
けんきゅうする research
コピーする copy
さんぽする take a walk
ざんぎょうする work overtime
する do, play, put on a tie
しゅうりする repair
しゅっちょうする go on a business trip
しょうかいする introduce
しょくじする have a meal, dine, eat
しんぱいする worry
せつめいする explain
せんたくする wash (clothes), do laundry
そうじする clean
つれてくる bring (someone)
でんわする use phone (call)
べんきょうする study
もってくる bring (something)
よやくする reserve, book
りゅうがくする study abroad

て形

is used as a command alone or before phrases like: もいいです, ください, はいけません, います, and にいます. て form is also used to list actions in order of completion separated by commas and ending with a verb in ます form to indicate either present/future completion or past completion. (In order to list actions done in general, た形 is used in conjunction with り and ending in います). Here is a helpful tool to help you review and memorize the list of て形 verbs.

て form conjugation for

Group I

has the most rules and is probably the most complex. ち、り、い become っ (a small つ) with a て on the end. き becomes い except for the EXCEPTION of いきます where the き becomes a っ (a small つ) both with て on the end. for ぎ the ten-ten (“) move onto the て so it becomes いで. み、び, に become んで. and します verbs simply have the ます removed and a て added. Here is a little song to help remember the て form conjugation rules for Group I

あって meet
あそんで enjoy oneself, play
あらって Wash
あって have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place
あるいて Walk
いって Say
いって go
いそいで hurry
いって need, require
うごいて move, work
うたって sing
うって sell
おいて Put
おくって escort, go with
おして push, press
おもいだして remember, recollect
おもって think
およいで swim
おろして withdraw
おわって finish
かって buy
かえして give back, return
かえって go home, return
かかって take, cost
かいて Write, draw, paint
かして lend
かって win
かぶって put/wear on my head
がんばって do one’s best
きいて hear, listen, ask (someone)
きって cut, slice
けして turn off
さわって Touch
しって get to know
すって smoke
すんで be going to live
すわって sit down
だして take out, hand in, send
たって stand up
つかって use
ついて arrive
つくって make, produce
つれていって take (someone)
てつだって help (with a task)
とまって stay (somewhere)
とって take, pass, grow old
なおして repair, correct
なくして lose
ならって learn
なって Become
ぬいで take off (clothes, shoes)
のぼって Climb, go up
のんで drink, take (medicine)
のって ride, get on (train)
はいって enter (a place), take (a bath)
はいて Wear, put on (clothes, shoes)
はたらいて work
はなして speak, talk
はらって pay
ひいて play (instrument), pull
ふって rain
まがって turn (to the right), bend
まって wait
まわして turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn around, wander around
もって hold
もっていって take something
もらって receive
やくにたって be useful/helpful
やすんで Rest, take a holiday, take a day off
よんで Call
よんで read
わかって understand
わたって Cross over (a bridge/road)

て形 for Group II

is simple: the ます removed and a て is added.
あけて open
あげて Give me
あつめて collect, gather
あびて take (a shower)
いて exist, be (animate), have (a child), stay, be (somewhere)
いれて Put in, insert
うまれて be born
おきて get up, wake up
おしえて teach, tell (something)
おぼえて memorize
おりて get off (a train)
かえて change
かけて make (a phone call), put on (glasses)
かりて borrow
かんがえて think, consider
きて put on (clothes)
きをつけて pay attention, be careful, take care
くれて Give (me)
しめて close/shut
しらべて check, investigate
すてて discard, throw away
たべて eat
たりて be enough, be sufficient
つかれて get tired
つけて turn on
でかけて go out
できて be able to, can
でて change, come out
でて go out (of someplace)
とめて graduate (from University), stop, park
ねて sleep, go to bed
のりかえて change, Transfer (trains)
はじめて start, begin
まけて lose, be beaten
みせて show
みて see, look at, watch
むかえて go to meet, Welcome
やめて quit, retire, stop, give up
わすれて Forget

て形 for Group III

also simply has the ます removed and a て is added. Just like in Group I します becomes して and the きます verbs become きて.
あんないして show around, show the way
うんてんして drive
かいものして go shopping
きて come
けっこんして marry, get married
けんがくして visit a place to study it, tour
けんきゅうして research
コピーして copy
さんぽして take a walk
ざんぎゅうして work overtime
して do, play, put on a tie
しゅうりして repair
しゅっちょうして go on a business trip
しょうかいして introduce
しょくじして have a meal, dine, eat
しんぱいして worry
せつめいして explain
せんたくして wash (clothes), do laundry
そうじして clean
つれてきて bring (someone)
でんわして use phone (call)
べんきょうして study
もってきて bring (something)
よやくして reserve, book
りゅうがくして study abroad

た形

can be thought of as the た in ました when translating formal speech into informal (ふつう体/ふつう形) speech. た形 is used before the expression たことがあります to express having done something in general. た形 is used before り to express in general a list of things that were done with します at the end to indicate that there are other small things that were done as well. When listing actions done in た形, it is not correct to state actions that are done every day (like eating or sleeping). (When listing actions in order of completion, て形 is used). Also be sure to not get た形 confused with たいです (to want) or たくない (to not want) where the root of the verb is attached rather than conjugated into た形. For verbs in Group II and III it will be the same either way, but for Group I verbs it is very important.

Study た形 list of verbs included in Minna No Nihongo book I.

The conjugation for

た形 for Group I

(and both other groups as well) is identical to て形 except that た is used instead of て (and だ instead of で). ち、り、い become っ (a small つ) and た is added on the end. き becomes い except for the EXCEPTION of いきます where the き becomes a っ (a small つ) both with た on the end. for ぎ the ten-ten (“) move onto the た so it becomes いだ. み、び, に become んだ. and します verbs simply have the ます removed and a た added.
あった meet
あそんだ enjoy oneself, play
あらった Wash
あった have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place
あるいた Walk
いった Say
いった go
いそいだ hurry
いった need, require
うごいた move, work
うたった sing
うった sell
おいた Put
おくった escort, go with
おした push, press
おもいだした remember, recollect
おもった think
およいだ swim
おろした withdraw
おわった finish
かった buy
かえした give back, return
かえった go home, return
かかった take, cost
かいた Write, draw, paint
かした lend
かった win
かぶった put/wear on my head
がんばった do one’s best
きいた hear, listen, ask (someone)
きった cut, slice
けした turn off
さわった Touch
しった get to know
すった smoke
すんだ be going to live
すわった sit down
だした take out, hand in, send
たった stand up
つかった use
ついた arrive
つくった make, produce
つれていった take (someone)
てつだった help (with a task)
とまった stay (somewhere)
とった take, pass, grow old
なおした repair, correct
なくした lose
ならった learn
なった Become
ぬいだ take off (clothes, shoes)
のぼった Climb, go up
のんだ drink, take (medicine)
のった ride, get on (train)
はいった enter (a place), take (a bath)
はいた Wear, put on (clothes, shoes)
はたらいた work
はなした speak, talk
はらった pay
ひいた play (instrument), pull
ふった rain
まがった turn (to the right), bend
まった wait
まわした turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn around, wander around
もった hold
もったいった take something
もらった receive
やくにたった be useful/helpful
やすんだ Rest, take a holiday, take a day off
よんだ Call
よんだ read
わかった understand
わたった Cross over (a bridge/road)

Group II

conjugation for た form is also identical to て form except that た is used instead of て. ます is removed and た is added.
あけた open
あげた Give me
あつめた collect, gather
あびた take (a shower)
いた exist, be (animate), have (a child), stay, be (somewhere)
いれた Put in, insert
うまれた be born
おきた get up, wake up
おしえた teach, tell (something)
おぼえた memorize
おりた get off (a train)
かえた change
かけた make (a phone call), put on (glasses)
かりた borrow
かんがえた think, consider
きた put on (clothes)
きをつけた pay attention, be careful, take care
くれた Give (me)
しめた close/shut
しらべた check, investigate
すてた discard, throw away
たべた eat
たりた be enough, be sufficient
つかれた get tired
つけた turn on
でかけた go out
できた be able to, can
でた change, come out
でた go out (of someplace)
とめた graduate (from University), stop, park
ねた sleep, go to bed
のりかえた change, Transfer (trains)
はじめた start, begin
まけた lose, be beaten
みせた show
みた see, look at, watch
むかえた go to meet, Welcome
やめた quit, retire, stop, give up
わすれた Forget

Conjugation of

た形 for Group III

verbs is also identical to て form except that た is used instead of て. します becomes した and きます becomes きた.
あんないした show around, show the way
うんてんした drive
かいものした go shopping
きた come
けっこんした marry, get married
けんがくした visit a place to study it, tour
けんきゅうした research
コピーした copy
さんぽした take a walk
ざんぎゅうした work overtime
した do, play, put on a tie
しゅうりした repair
しゅっちょうした go on a business trip
しょうかいした introduce
しょくじした have a meal, dine, eat
しんぱいした worry
せつめいした explain
せんたくした wash (clothes), do laundry
そうじした clean
つれてきた bring (someone)
でんわした use phone (call)
べんきょうした study
もってきた bring (something)
よやくした reserve, book
りゅうがくした study abroad

ない形

is the NEGATIVE verb form used in expressions such as ないでください(please DO NOT), なければなりません(to have to), なくてもいいです (NOT (good) – don’t do). Study NA form conjugations

ない形 for Group I

verb conjugation into ない form is similar to Dictionary form except that the “I”s before ます are turned into “A”s. Except that い instead of becoming a straight up “あ” it becomes わ instead、and き becomes か、ぎ becomes が、び becomes ば、りbecomes ら、ち becomes た、み becomes ま、し becomes さ、and に becomes な. Make sure to know what “I”ます verbs are in group II and are not conjugated the same for ない形.
あわない meet
あそばない enjoy oneself, play
あらわない Wash
あらない have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place
あるかない Walk
いわない Say
いかない go
いそがない hurry
いらない need, require
うごかない move, work
うたわない sing
うらない sell
おかない Put
おくらない escort, go with
おさない push, press
おもいださない remember, recollect
おもわない think
およがない swim
おろさない withdraw
おわらない finish
かわない buy
かえさない give back, return
かえらない go home, return
かからない take, cost
かかない Write, draw, paint
かさない lend
かたない win
かぶらない put/wear on my head
がんばらない do one’s best
きかない hear, listen, ask (someone)
きらない cut, slice
けさない turn off
さわらない Touch
しらない get to know
すわない smoke
すまない be going to live
すわらない sit down
ださない take out, hand in, send
たたない stand up
つかわない use
つかない arrive
つくらない make, produce
つれていかない take (someone)
てつだわない help (with a task)
とまらない stay (somewhere)
とらない take, pass, grow old
なおさない repair, correct
なくさない lose
ならわない learn
ならない Become
ぬがない take off (clothes, shoes)
のぼらない Climb, go up
のまない drink, take (medicine)
のらない ride, get on (train)
はいらない enter (a place), take (a bath)
はかない Wear, put on (clothes, shoes)
はたらかない work
はなさない speak, talk
はらわない pay
ひかない play (instrument), pull
ふらない rain
まがらない turn (to the right), bend
またない wait
まわさない turn, rotate, spin, revolve, turn round, wander around
もたない hold
もっていかない take something
もらわない receive
やくにたたない be useful/helpful
やすまない Rest, take a holiday, take a day off
よばない Call
よまない read
わからない understand
わたらない Cross over (a bridge/road)

ない形 for Group II

な form is like Dictionary Form as well. ます is removed and な is added.
おりない get off (a train)
かえない change
かけない make (a phone call), put on (glasses)
かりない borrow
かんがえない think, consider
きない put on (clothes)
きをつけない pay attention, be careful, take care
くれない Give (me)
しめない close/shut
しらべない check, investigate
すてない discard, throw away
たべない eat
たりない be enough, be sufficient
つかれない get tired
つけない turn on
でかけない go out
できない be able to, can
でない change, come out
でない go out (of someplace)
とめない graduate (from University), stop, park
ねない sleep, go to bed
のりかえない change, Transfer (trains)
はじめない start, begin
まけない lose, be beaten
みせない show
みない see, look at, watch
むかえない go to meet, Welcome
やめない quit, retire, stop, give up
わすれない Forget

Conjugation of verbs into な形 for verbs in

ない形 for Group III

is just like dictionary form as well. ます is removed and な is added. します becomes しな and きます becomes きな. Make sure you remember which します verbs are in Group I.
あんないしない show around, show the way
うんてんしない drive
かいものしない go shopping
こない come
けっこんしない marry, get married
けんがくしない visit a place to study it, tour
けんきゅうしない research
コピーしない copy
さんぽしない take a walk
ざんぎょうしない work overtime
しない do, play, put on a tie
しゅうりしない repair
しゅっちょうしない go on a business trip
しょうかいしない introduce
しょくじしない have a meal, dine, eat
しんぱいしない worry
せつめいしない explain
せんたくしない wash (clothes), do laundry
そうじしない clean
つれてこない bring (someone)
でんわしない use phone (call)
べんきょうしない study
もってこない bring (something)
よやくしない reserve, book
りゅうがくしない study abroad

For the expression に(い)きます as well as ましょう, verbs in ます form simply have the ます removed which is called PLAIN form.

Verb Particles


で = at / by means of / with (object)
に = to / on / in
と = with (along with – also with)
Here is a list of verbs with specific particles other than the typical を:
あいます (meet) に
います(stay, be (somewhere)) に
はいります (enter (a place), take (a bath)) に
ききます (ask (someone)) に
さわります (Touch) に
とまります (stay (somewhere)) に
のります (ride, get on (train)) に
いきます (go) へ / に
まがります (turn (to the right), bend) へ
あります (have, exist, be (inanimate), be held (an event), take place) が
いります (need, require) が
できます (be able to, can) が
でます (change, come out) が
ふります (rain) が
います (exist, be (animate), have (a child)) が
でます (change, come out) が

Here is a course to practice matching a noun and particle with the correct verb. There are some examples with を if an example was given for the verb.

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Learn how to properly sort trash in Japan and Fukuoka
All Blog Posts, Japanese Culture, Pro's and Con's of Japan

Fukuoka, Japan – Waste Disposal Rules (Gomi Guide)

Learn how to separate your trash in fukuoka japanLearn the Rules of Fukuoka’s Trash and Recycle Disposal

Trash in Japanese is called gomi, and each city and each town and each district has a different system for collecting garbage in Japan. Each district has its own gomi guide to refer to for the different procedures. For the purpose of this article, since I will be living in Fukuoka, I will be going over the rules and regulations from the Fukuoka gomi guide. All pictures are captured from the Fukuoka gomi guide as well. Here in America we simply recycle or throw away certain materials we no longer need or wish to use any longer.

It's possible to learn Japanese while watching your favorite anime

However, in Japan it is not that simple. In Japan, everyone must sort their garbage into burnable items, non burnable items, and recyclable items and put the collected garbage into color-coordinated bags which are specific to each district and are sold at local convenience stores.  According to Waste Atlas each person in Japan produces an average of 356.2kg of waste per year and as a whole, Japan generates 45,360,000 tons of municipal waste per year, ranking 8th in the world. They have special machinery to help burn items that normally are difficult to burn that is also cheaper, takes up less space, and produces fewer nitrogen oxides and less sulphur dioxide than typical incinerators. They also convert the fumes produced when burning into energy which fuels the machine itself as well as generates power for the local area.  According to the Fukuoka City Garbage Disposal System Pamphlet, four incinerators can supply power to 33,660 households in the surrounding area.

A helpful Gumi guide for fukuokaAlthough the colors are the same nationwide, the specific bags for each district are labeled with the name of the district on each bag. Red bags indicate burnable items, blue bags indicate non-burnable items, and white bags are for recyclable items. Each person must also put their name or code on each bag to indicate who to return the garbage to if it is improperly sorted. If someone wishes to get rid of an item that does not fit in the specified bags, they will then have to purchase a disposal ticket priced equivalent to the weight and size of the item and attach the ticket with their name to the item and leave the item at a designated pick up location. If the item is in good condition, the item may be sold for reuse. The Japanese have a phrase, “mottainai” which means “What a waste” or “waste not, want not” to try and help primarily reduce the amount of waste including food waste and secondly reuse items before recycling or wasting.

What about air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryer, and computers? For these specific items, there will be a collection and moving fee plus a recycling fee, and people have to call and authorized collector to handle these specific items. People also have to call an authorized collector to dispose of bicycles and motorcycles, pianos, tires, car batteries, agricultural equipment, fire extinguishers, LPG cylinders, non-empty kerosene containers and print cars, gasoline and motor oil, and other agrochemicals like toner.

Garbage that's not allowed in facility

Burnable items include kitchen waste, non-recyclable plastic, rubber items, leather items, bamboo or wooden items, entirely empty disposable lighters, disposable diapers, pet excrement, empty kerosene tanks, clothes and futon mattresses, cold packs and paper trash and tin foil. There are certain conditions and requirements for certain items, but I don’t know how strictly these requirements are enforced and how strictly people abide by the requests. The collection agencies ask people to remove any excess water from their food waste to prevent odors as well as unnecessary weight and mess. They also ask that cooking oils be chemically coagulated or absorbed completely with paper towels. Non-recyclable items include plastic bottles for cooking oil, mayonnaise, detergent, and shampoo, plastic hangers, toys, videotapes, CD’s, DVD’s, egg trays, PET bottle caps and labels. Rubber items consist of Rubber boots, gloves, sandals, toys, hoses, and kitchen mats. Leather items consist of leather shoes, handbags, belts, bags, wallets, and other leather items. If a leather item (like a belt) has metal, the metal should be removed and disposed of in a non-burnable garbage bag. For bamboo and wooden items, they should not be bigger than 1 meter in length and 5cm in diameter and should fit in the bag without causing the bag to tear. In disposing of a wooden broomstick, the handle may stick out of the top of the bag as long as the rest of the broom is secure inside the bag. For disposal of tree branches, it is requested that large amounts are brought to a designated processing facility. Disposable lighters must be entirely empty which can be made certain by pressing on the lever. In disposing of disposable diapers, collection agencies request that excrement be removed before disposal. Pet waste is asked to be dried and secured tightly in a plastic bag.

how to throw away kitchen rubbish in fukuoka japan

Non-burnable items consist of aluminum and steel cans, entirely empty aerosol cans, metal pots and pans, metal items like hangers and wire, small appliances, glass, porcelain and ceramic, umbrellas, fluorescent tubes and dry batteries, disposable pocket warmers, kitchen knives, thermometers, and gardening soil. Steel and aluminum cans are sorted and recycled. To make sure an aerosol can is entirely empty you can remove the push cap so that there is just the small tube and press the small tube against the center spot of the top of the container lid. Small appliances that are accepted as long as they fit in the designated non-burnable bag are: vacuums, printers, toasters, rice cookers, and electric pots. Glass cups, plates, formula bottles, medicine bottles, window glass, vases, aquariums, ashtrays, ornaments, light bulbs, opaque white and broken bottles are disposed of as non-burnable items. Glass containers for soft drinks, liquor, seasoning, cosmetics, and food (like jam jars) are to be disposed of in the recyclable bag designated for PET bottles and glass containers. If someone is disposing of broken or sharp glass, it should be wrapped in cardboard and marked. Porcelain and ceramic bowls, plates, ornaments, and flowerpots are disposed of in non-burnable designated bags. The same requirements for disposing of a burnable wooden broomstick apply to umbrellas. The handle of an umbrella may protrude out the top of the designated non-burnable bag, but it is requested that umbrellas not be longer than 1 meter in length and 5cm in diameter. Fluorescent bulbs and dry batteries can be disposed of at collection stations such as ward offices and citizens’ centers or taken to 3R stations. Kitchen knives should be wrapped in thick paper and marked the same as broken glass. People are asked to recycle small household electronic items such as cell phones, cameras, game consoles, music players, chargers, remote controls, electric cords, and other electronic accessories and devices by dropping them off at collection boxes located in ward offices and supermarkets.

Japan recycles paper, metals, glass, and plastic. Most of the plastic in Japan that is commonly recycled are PET bottles which are recycled into new PET bottles and also clothes, bags, carpets, and doggy raincoats. In order to be recycled, PET bottles should have the label removed as well as the cap and should be rinsed out and smashed. Newspapers should be neatly stacked and bundled with twine. Flattened cardboard should also be neatly stacked and tied with twine. Small papers can be collected in paper bags. Paper coated with plastic, or water proof paper, or paper drawn on by crayons, or paper with paint on it, or scented paper, or carbon paper, or self-adhesive envelopes and post cards are not accepted as recyclable paper. Paper cartons should be flattened and rinsed and can be recycled. Food trays that are thin enough to be poked with a toothpick can be washed and dried and recycled.

Commercial garbage should be separated from residential garbage. If someone voluntarily cleans up leaves or trash in a public place, they can have the city collect the garbage if they contact the local ward office. Deceased pets can be disposed of as waste material for a 1,000 yen price tag, or they can just leave their dead animal on the street to be collected for free, or people can contact pet cemeteries and funeral homes for burials and cremations.

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