Verb Conjugation「歌う (うたう、utau)」sing, will sing | Learn Japanese Grammar

Japanese verbs have conjugations.「歌う (うたう、utau)」is a verb and means “sing” or “will sing.” We will teach you the conjugation on 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.
Conversation Lesson & Daily Japanese Mail Support: Ichiyo’s Japanese Online Lesson

Vocabulary Video

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

Our main YouTube channel: Ichiyo’s Japanese YouTube Channel
Our sub-YouTube channel (Japanese vocabulary videos): Ichiyo’s Subchannel

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: sing, will sing

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Dictionary & Plain Form	歌うたう	utau
ます & Polite Form	歌います	utaimasu

「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’m going to sing with Yamada-san at a karaoke tonight.

今晩こんばん、山田やまださんとカラオケで歌う。 (Plain Form)
今晩、山田さんとカラオケで歌います。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: do not sing, will not sing

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたわない	utawanai
Polite Form	歌いません	utaimasen

I’m not going to sing with Yamada-san at a karaoke tonight.

今晩こんばん、山田やまださんとカラオケで歌わない。(Plain Form)
今晩、山田さんとカラオケで歌いません。(Polite Form)

Past Tense

English Meaning: sang

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	歌うたった	utatta
Polite Form	歌いました	utaimashita

I sang a Christmas song at the recital last week.

先週せんしゅう、発表会はっぴょうかいでクリスマスソングを歌った。(Plain Form)
先週、発表会でクリスマスソングを歌いました。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: did not sing

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたわなかった	utawanakatta
Polite Form	歌いませんでした	utaimasendeshita

I didn’t sing a Christmas song at the recital last week.

先週せんしゅう、発表会はっぴょうかいでクリスマスソングを歌わなかった。(Plain Form)
先週、発表会でクリスマスソングを歌いませんでした。(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	歌うたって	utatte

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

We sang “Mikan no Uta” at a choir competition and won a prize.

合唱がっしょうコンクールで「みかんのうた」を歌うたって、賞しょうを貰もらいました。(Polite Form)

In this case,「て」indicates “and” or “after.” 「みかんのうた」means “Japanese orange song.”

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

English Meaning: will sing

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたおう	utaō
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 sing this song tomorrow.

明日あした、この歌を歌おう。(Plain Form)

Volitional Form 2: Solicitation, Intention, Invitation

English Meaning: let’s sing

	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたおう	utaō
Polite Form	歌いましょう	utaimashyō

Let’s sing on stage!

舞台ぶたいの上うえで歌おう。(Plain Form)
舞台の上で歌いましょう。(Polite Form)

Potential

English Meaning: can sing/be able to sing

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたえる	utaeru
Polite Form	歌えます	utaemasu

Yuri-san can sing in Korean.

百合ゆりさんは韓国かんこく語ごで歌える。(Plain Form)
百合さんは韓国語で歌えます。(Polite Form)

English Meaning: cannot sing/not able to sing

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたえない	utaenai
Polite Form	歌えません	utaemasen

Yuri-san can’t sing in Korean.

百合ゆりさんは韓国かんこく語ごで歌えない。(Plain Form)
百合さんは韓国語で歌えません。(Polite Form)

Imperative Form

English Meaning: sing! (order, command)

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたえ	utae

Sing in English!

英語えいごで歌え。(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.
Our Private Japanese Lesson: Ichiyo’s Japanese Online Lesson

Prohibition and Order

English Meaning: do not sing!

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたうな	utauna

Don’t sing with a loud voice!

大おおきな声こえで歌うな。(Plain Form)

Conditional Form

English Meaning: if (subject) sing

Conjugation	Romaji Reading
歌うたえば	utaeba

If you sing a lullaby, he/she will fall asleep.

子守こもり歌を歌えば、寝ねてしまうでしょう。(Polite Form)

Hypothetical/Definite Conditions, Sequence of Actions

English Meanings: if/when ~ sing, ~ sang 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
歌うたったら	utattara

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

When I sang enka to my grandmother, she became happy.

祖母そぼに演歌えんかを歌ったら、喜よろこんでくれました。(Polite Form)

“Enka” is a music genre. It traces its history to the nineteenth-century and is popular among senior citizens.

Causative Form

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

Positive	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたわせる	utawaseru
Polite Form	歌わせます	utawasemasu

I’ll make my son sing “Painkiller” by Judas Priest.

息子むすこにジューダス・プリーストの「ペインキラー」を歌わせる。(Plain Form)
息子にジューダス・プリーストの「ペインキラー」を歌わせます。(Polite Form)

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

Negative	Conjugation	Romaji Reading
Plain Form	歌うたわせない	utawasenai
Polite Form	歌わせません	utawasemasen

I won’t let my son sing “Angel Of Death” by Slayer.

息子むすこにスレイヤーの「エンジェル・オブ・デス」を歌わせない。 (Plain Form)
息子にスレイヤーの「エンジェル・オブ・デス」を歌わせません。(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.
Our website: Ichiyo’s Japanese Online Lesson