Verb Conjugation「書く (かく、kaku)」write, will write | Learn Japanese Grammar

Japanese verbs have conjugations.「書く (かく、kaku)」is a verb and means ” write” or “will write.” We will teach you the conjugation in this page. You can also learn example sentences using verb conjugations.

When you do not know how to use the conjugation, please learn about it in our conversation lessons or our mail support. In our mail support, we check your Japanese every time. If you have an internet connection and a PC/smartphone, you can learn Japanese with us all over the world.
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Vocabulary Video

Before you learn the conjugations, please learn about the pronunciation of the verb in dictionary and polite forms.

Video: Coming soon

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Dictionary Form/ます Form

As you know, English tenses are roughly divided into present, future, and past tenses. However, it is said that Japanese tenses consist only of “Past Tense” and “Non-Past Tense.” Therefore, we used “Dictionary Form,” not “Present Tense” in this heading.
Japanese people use two types of language. One is “non-honorific language” and the other is “honorific language.” When we focus on these languages, “dictionary” and “plain” forms are in “non-honorific language.” “Polite form” is in honorific language.

English Meaning: write, will write

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Dictionary & Plain Form	書かく	kaku
ます & Polite Form	書きます	kakimasu

「辞書じしょ形けい (dictionary form)」is the original form. The technical term is for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.「ます形けい (ます form)」is the polite form of a dictionary form. The term is also for non-native Japanese speakers.

I’ll write a letter to my grandfather.

祖父そふに手紙てがみを書く。(Plain Form)
祖父に手紙を書きます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: do not write, will not write

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かかない	kakanai
Polite Form	書きません	kakimasen

I won’t write a letter to my grandfather.

祖父に手紙を書かない。(Plain Form)
祖父に手紙を書きません。(Polite Form)

Past Tense

English Meaning: wrote

The plain form is in “た form”. “た form” is also a technical term for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
た & Plain Form	書かいた	kaita
Polite Form	書きました	kakimashita

I wrote a report in Japanese.

日本語にほんごでレポートを書いた。(Plain Form)
日本語でレポートを書きました。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: did not write

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かかなかった	kakanakatta
Polite Form	書きませんでした	kakimasen deshita

I didn’t write the report in Japanese.

日本語でレポートを書かなかった。(Plain Form)
日本語でレポートを書きませんでした。(Polite Form)

て Form

English Meaning: N/A

We cannot know the exact meaning without knowing the sentence and situation.

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
て Form	書かいて	kaite

About the phrases「ている」and「ています」: Here
About the phrase「～てください。」: Here

I wrote a diary and presented it at school.

日記にっきを書いて学校がっこうで発表はっぴょうしました。(Polite Form)

In this case,「て」means “and” or “after.”

Volitional Form 1: Will, (Own) Intention, Determination

English Meaning: will write

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かこう	kakō
Polite Form	N/A	N/A

This phrase is used only in plain form. This is because we use it when we talk to ourselves or think in our minds. When we talk or think to ourselves, we usually do not use the polite form.

I’ll write a New Year’s card.

年賀状ねんがじょうを書こう。(Plain Form)

Volitional Form 2: Solicitation, Intention, Invitation

English Meaning: let’s write

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かこう	kakō
Polite Form	書きましょう	kakimashō

Let’s write a letter to Cate-san in English.

ケイトさんに英語で手紙を書こう。(Plain Form)
ケイトさんに英語で手紙を書きましょう。(Polite Form)

In Japanese, the nuance between「ケイト (Cate)」and「ケイトさん (Cate-san)」is different. Therefore, we wrote “san” in the English meaning.

Potential

English Meaning: can write/be able to write

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かける	kakeru
Polite Form	書けます	kakemasu

Kaneko-san can write Hangul.

金子かねこさんはハングル文字もじが書ける。(Plain Form)
金子さんはハングル文字が書けます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: cannot write/not able to write

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かけない	kakenai
Polite Form	書けません	kakemasen

Kaneko-san can’t write Hangul.

金子さんはハングル文字が書けない。(Plain Form)
金子さんはハングル文字が書けません。(Polite Form)

Imperative Form

English Meaning: write! (order, command)

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かけ	kake

Write a letter to your girlfriend!

彼女かのじょに手紙てがみを書け。(Plain Form)

“Imperative form” is used only in plain form and this phrase often becomes rude depending on the situation. Please show us your Japanese when you use it. We will check and teach suitable Japanese.
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Prohibition and Order

English Meaning: do not write!

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かくな	kakuna

Don’t write lies!

嘘うそを書くな。(Plain Form)

Conditional Form

English Meaning: if (subject) write

Conjugation	Romaji Reading
書かけば	kakeba

If you write a letter to Santa Claus, you will receive a present.

サンタさんに手紙てがみを書けば、プレゼントがもらえるでしょう。(Polite Form)

Hypothetical/Definite Conditions, Sequence of Actions

English Meanings: if/when ~ write, ~ wrote and ~

The form「～たら」has different usages. It has other meanings except from those listed above. More explanations are in our conversation lessons or mail support.

Conjugation	Romaji Reading
書かいたら	kaitara

Here is an example sentence wherein「たら」indicates a “sequence of actions.”

I wrote a letter to Santa Claus and received a present.

サンタさんに手紙てがみを書いたら、プレゼントがもらえました。(Polite Form)

Causative Form

English Meaning: make/let/have (person) write

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かかせる	kakaseru
Polite Form	書かせます	kakasemasu

I’ll make my daughter write a diary for her homework.

娘むすめに宿題しゅくだいの日記にっきを書かせる。(Plain Form)
娘に宿題の日記を書かせます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: do not make/let/have (person) write

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	書かかせない	kakasenai
Polite Form	書かせません	kakasemasen

That professor doesn’t make his students write a lot of reports.

あの教授きょうじゅは生徒せいとにたくさんレポートを書かせない。 (Plain Form)
あの教授は生徒にたくさんレポートを書かせません。(Polite Form)

To Learn Correct Verb Conjugations

Japanese verb conjugation is too complicated and there are many learners who use it incorrectly. Therefore, we provide lessons and services where we teach and correct your Japanese daily. If you want to know more about the details, please check out our website.
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