JLPT N4 Notes #2 — Everyday Japanese Verbs

Another day, another vocabulary list.

This time, I picked verbs that you'll constantly hear if you watch Japanese dramas, anime, YouTube vlogs, or simply live in Japan.

As always, I don't want to memorize translations. I want to understand how Japanese people naturally use them.

始めます（はじめます）vs 始まります（はじまります）

One of the first verb pairs you'll meet.

始める

Someone starts something.

来週から日本語のオンライン授業を始めようと思っています。毎日少しずつ勉強したほうが、続けやすいと先生に言われました。

I'm thinking of starting online Japanese lessons next week. My teacher told me it's easier to keep going if I study a little every day.

始まる

Something starts by itself.

ゴールデンウィークが始まると、新幹線も空港もかなり混むので、みんな早めに予定を立てます。

Golden Week begins, so trains and airports become extremely crowded.

Fun Fact 🇯🇵

Japanese TV programs almost always begin with

まもなく始まります。

"Starting shortly."

You'll hear this constantly.

終わります（おわります）

Means to finish.

今日のアルバイトが終わったあとで、コンビニに寄って新発売のおにぎりを買って帰りました。

After finishing my part-time job today, I stopped by a convenience store and bought one of the newly released rice balls before going home.

忘れます（わすれます）

Means to forget.

家を出てから財布を忘れたことに気づいたので、駅まで行ったのに一度戻ることになってしまいました。

After leaving home, I realized I had forgotten my wallet, so even though I'd already reached the station, I had to go back home.

Fun Fact 😂

Japanese people say

忘れちゃった！

much more often than

忘れました。

The first sounds much more casual.

持って行きます vs 持って来ます

One of the easiest ways to sound natural.

持って行く

Take something there.

明日はみんなで花見をするので、私は飲み物と紙コップを持って行くことにしました。

Tomorrow we're having a cherry blossom picnic, so I decided to bring drinks and paper cups.

持って来る

Bring something here.

家にゲーム機があるなら、今度うちへ遊びに来るときに持って来てもいいよ。

If you have a game console at home, feel free to bring it next time you come over.

Easy Rule

行く → There

来る → Here

借ります（かります）vs 貸します（かします）

Another pair everyone mixes up.

Example

友達が読み終わった漫画を貸してくれたので、週末までに読んで返そうと思っています。

My friend lent me a manga that he'd already finished reading, so I'm planning to finish it and return it before the weekend.

Fun Fact

Japanese libraries use

貸出中

meaning

Currently borrowed.

You'll see this sign everywhere.

並びます（ならびます）

Japan loves lines.

Really.

人気のラーメン屋だったので、一時間以上並んだにもかかわらず、みんな文句を言わずに静かに待っていました。

It was a popular ramen shop, so even though people waited for over an hour, everyone quietly waited without complaining.

Fun Fact 🍜

It's completely normal to wait an hour for ramen.

If locals are lining up...

it's probably worth it.

急ぎます（いそぎます）

Means to hurry.

電車がもうすぐ来るらしいので、エスカレーターではなく階段を使って急ぐことにしました。

I heard the train was about to arrive, so I decided to use the stairs instead of the escalator.

遅れます（おくれます）

Not only for trains.

朝は目覚まし時計が鳴ったのに二度寝してしまって、会社に少し遅れてしまいました。

Even though my alarm went off, I fell asleep again and ended up being a little late for work.

Fun Fact

When trains are delayed...

Japanese stations often issue

遅延証明書

A delay certificate that employees and students can show at school or work.

Yes...

Japan is that punctual.

着きます（つきます）

Means to arrive.

東京駅に着いたら、まず駅ナカで朝ご飯を食べてからホテルへ向かう予定です。

When I arrive at Tokyo Station, I'm planning to have breakfast inside the station before heading to my hotel.

戻ります（もどります）

Means to return.

忘れ物をしたことに気づいたので、会社を出てすぐにオフィスへ戻ることになりました。

I realized I'd left something behind, so I had to return to the office right after leaving.

入ります（はいります）vs 出ます（でます）

Simple, but everywhere.

入る

↓

Inside

↑

出る

Example:

コンビニに入ったつもりだったのに、間違えて隣のドラッグストアへ入ってしまいました。

I thought I was entering the convenience store, but I accidentally walked into the drugstore next door.

泊まります（とまります）

Means staying overnight.

京都へ旅行したときは、ホテルではなく昔ながらの旅館に泊まってみたかったので、半年前から予約していました。

When I traveled to Kyoto, I wanted to stay at a traditional ryokan instead of a hotel, so I booked it six months in advance.

Fun Fact

泊まる always implies

sleeping there overnight.

Not simply visiting.

泳ぎます（およぎます）

夏になると、学校が終わったあと友達と市民プールへ泳ぎに行く高校生をよく見かけます。

During summer, it's common to see high school students going swimming together after school.

写します（うつします）

Means copying.

黒板を写す前に先生が消してしまったので、隣の席の友達にノートを見せてもらいました。

Before I could copy the blackboard, the teacher erased it, so I asked my classmate if I could look at their notebook.

選びます（えらびます）

Means choosing carefully.

自動販売機の前で新しい飲み物が多すぎて、どれを選べばいいのか五分ぐらい悩んでしまいました。

There were so many new drinks in front of the vending machine that I spent about five minutes trying to decide which one to choose.

Fun Fact

Japan releases limited-edition drinks almost every season.

Choosing one really can take a while.

続けます（つづけます）

Means to continue.

毎日十五分だけでも日本語を勉強し続ければ、一年後にはかなり読めるようになると思います。

If you keep studying Japanese for just fifteen minutes every day, I think you'll be able to read quite a lot after a year.

慣れます（なれます）

Means becoming accustomed to something.

日本へ来たばかりの頃は電車の乗り換えが難しかったですが、一か月ぐらいするとだんだん慣れてきました。

When I first came to Japan, transferring between trains was difficult, but after about a month, I gradually got used to it.

Fun Fact 🇯🇵

You'll hear Japanese people say

慣れれば大丈夫。

"It's fine once you get used to it."

It's a phrase you'll hear surprisingly often—from using chopsticks to starting a new job.

Quick Review

Final Thoughts

One thing I've noticed is that Japanese verbs rarely exist alone.

Every verb naturally comes with a situation.

Instead of memorizing 「借りる = borrow」, I now imagine borrowing manga from a friend.

Instead of memorizing 「並ぶ = line up」, I picture people quietly waiting outside a famous ramen shop.

Those little scenes make the vocabulary stick much better than flashcards ever could.