N5 Vocabulary: Common verbs — 24 words with memory tricks

2026-07-30 · Memoro

N5 verbs look like a big pile, but a few golden rules cut it down: transitive/intransitive pairs (自動詞/他動詞) and three irregular verbs. This lesson gathers 24 essential verbs taught by group, each with a kanji hook.

する

suru

to do, to try; to wear small items (e.g., necktie, watch, etc.)

💡 The #1 irregular verb — "to do". Attach to nouns: 勉強する (study), 料理する (cook).

テニスをします。I play tennis.

来る

くる

kuru

to come

💡 Irregular — "to come". Odd forms: 来ます kimasu, 来た kita.

友達がうちに遊びに来ます。A friend is coming to my house to hang out.

行く

いく

iku

to go

💡 "to go". iku.

学校へ行きます。I go to school.

在る

ある

aru

to be, to have

💡 ある — "to exist" for things / inanimate.

机の上に本が在ります。There is a book on the desk.

居る

いる

iru

(humble) to be (animate), to exist

💡 いる — "to exist" for people & animals.

あそこに猫が居ます。There is a cat over there.

食べる

たべる

taberu

to eat

💡 食 (eat). taberu — a group-2 (-eru) verb.

リンゴを食べます。I eat an apple.

飲む

のむ

nomu

to drink

💡 飲 (drink). nomu.

お茶を飲みます。I drink tea.

見る

みる

miru

to see, to look

💡 見 (see/look). miru.

映画を見ます。I watch a movie.

聞く

きく

kiku

to hear, to listen, to ask

💡 聞 (hear/ask). kiku.

音楽を聴きます。I listen to music.

話す

はなす

hanasu

to speak

💡 話 (talk). hanasu = to speak.

日本語で話しましょう。Let's speak in Japanese.

読む

よむ

yomu

to read

💡 読 (read). yomu.

新聞を読みます。I read the newspaper.

書く

かく

kaku

to write

💡 書 (write). kaku.

手紙を書きます。I write a letter.

買う

かう

kau

to buy

💡 買 (buy). kau. Don't mix up with 売る uru (sell).

新しい服を買いました。I bought new clothes.

帰る

かえる

kaeru

to go back, to go home, to return

💡 帰 (return home). kaeru.

家へ帰りましょう。Let's go home.

起きる

おきる

okiru

to get up (e.g., from sleeping); to happen

💡 起 (rise). okiru = wake up; also "to happen".

毎朝七時に起きます。I wake up at 7 AM every morning.

寝る

ねる

neru

to sleep; to go to sleep; to go to bed

💡 寝 (sleep). The 宀 roof radical → sleeping indoors. neru.

早く寝ましょう。Let's go to sleep early.

開く

あく

aku

to open, to become open

💡 開 (open). あく = the door opens by itself (intransitive).

店は十時に開きます。The shop opens at ten.

開ける

あける

akeru

to open (v.t.)

💡 開 + -eru → you open something (transitive). Pairs with 開く.

窓を開けてください。Please open the window.

閉まる

しまる

shimaru

to close, to be closed

💡 閉 (close). しまる = closes by itself.

ドアが閉まりました。The door closed.

閉める

しめる

shimeru

to close, to shut

💡 閉 + -eru → you close it. Pairs with 閉まる.

窓を閉めてください。Please close the window.

入る

はいる

hairu

to enter, to contain, to hold

💡 入 (enter). はいる = goes in by itself.

お風呂に入ります。I take a bath.

入れる

いれる

ireru

to put in

💡 入 + -eru → put something in. Pairs with 入る.

コーヒーに砂糖を入れます。I put sugar in my coffee.

出る

でる

deru

to appear, to leave

💡 出 (exit). でる = comes out / leaves by itself.

家を出ます。I leave home.

出す

だす

dasu

to take (something) out; to hand in (something)

💡 出 + -su → take/put something out, submit. Pairs with 出る.

宿題を出してください。Please hand in your homework.

Memory tricks

Transitive / intransitive pairs (自/他): 開く (the door opens itself) ↔ 開ける (you open it); 閉まる ↔ 閉める; 入る ↔ 入れる; 出る ↔ 出す. Rough rule: -aru/-u often happens by itself; -eru/-su is done to something.
Three irregular verbs to memorize: する (do), 来る kuru (come), 行く iku (go) — they conjugate irregularly.
ある vs いる (both "to exist"): ある for things/inanimate; いる for people & animals.
Kanji hooks: 食 (eat), 飲 (drink), 見 (see), 聞 (hear), 読 (read), 書 (write).
Review with spaced repetition in Memoro for the conjugations.

→ See all N5 Common verbs vocabulary

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