Japanese verbs are roughly divided into three groups according to their dictionary form (basic form). The basic form of 'Group 1' verbs end with "~ u". The basic form of 'Group 2' verbs end with either "~iru" or "~ eru". 'Group 3' verbs are irregular verbs. There are only two irregular verbs, kuru (to come) and suru (to do).
Click here to learn more about Japanese verbs and hear their pronunciation ("Audio Phrasaebook – verbs").
Here are some common verbs from each group. The links lead to various conjugations of each verb.
Group 1
aruku （歩く） --- to walk
asobu （遊ぶ） --- to play
au （会う） --- to meet
hairu （入る） --- to enter
hajimaru （始まる） --- to begin
iku （行く） --- to go
kaeru （帰る） --- to return
kakaru （かかる） --- to take
kaku （書く） --- to write
kau （買う） --- to buy
kiku （聞く） --- to listen
matsu （待つ） --- to wait
motsu （持つ） --- to have
narau （習う） --- to learn
nomu （飲む） --- to drink
okuru （送る） --- to send
omou （思う） --- to think
oyogu （泳ぐ） --- to swim
shiru （知る） --- to know
suwaru （座る） --- to sit
tatsu （立つ） --- to stand
tomaru （止まる） --- to stop
tsuku （着く） --- to arrive
uru （売る） --- to sell
utau （歌う） --- to sing
wakaru （分かる） --- to understand
warau （笑う） --- to laugh
yomu （読む） --- to read
Group 2
kangaeru （考える） --- to think
miru （見る） --- to see; to look
neru （寝る） --- to sleep
oshieru （教える） --- to teach
taberu （食べる） --- to eat
Group 3
