🎯 Verb Formality & Basic Conjugation
Master the foundation of Japanese politeness! Learn how verbs change to show respect, understand when to use different formality levels, and practice the essential conjugation patterns that will make your Japanese sound natural and appropriate.
Why Verb Formality is Crucial in Japanese
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Social Harmony
Shows respect and maintains wa (harmony) in relationships
Essential for Japanese social structure💼
Professional Success
Required in business, education, and formal settings
Critical for work and academic environments✨
First Impressions
Demonstrates cultural awareness and language competency
Shows you understand Japanese etiquette💬
Daily Communication
Used in 80% of polite conversations with non-intimate people
Most common form in everyday interactionsAdvertisement
Three Levels of Verb Formality
Japanese has three main levels of verb formality. Understanding when to use each is essential for appropriate communication:
Casual/Dictionary Form
たべる
Usage: Friends, family, informal writing
Context: Close relationships, casual conversations
Polite/ます Form
たべます
Usage: Strangers, workplace, respectful situations
Context: Most daily conversations, business, formal speech
Honorific/Humble
めしあがる
Usage: Very formal, showing high respect
Context: Customer service, formal ceremonies
💡 Pro Tip:
When in doubt, use ます form. It's always safe and shows respect. You can adjust to casual later as relationships develop.
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Situational Usage Guide
Learn when to use which formality level through real-world examples:
📍 Meeting Someone New
Inappropriate:
❌ よろしく
Appropriate:
✅ よろしくおねがいします
Always use polite form with strangers
📍 Ordering Food
Inappropriate:
❌ これたべる
Appropriate:
✅ これをください
Service situations require politeness
📍 At Work/School
Inappropriate:
❌ いく
Appropriate:
✅ いきます
Professional environments demand formality
📍 With Friends
Casual Option:
✅ たべる？
Appropriate:
✅ たべますか？
Both acceptable, depends on relationship depth
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Step-by-Step Conjugation to ます Form
Master the conjugation process for each verb type with detailed explanations:
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Common Formality Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using casual form in formal situations
Wrong: せんせい、いく
Correct: せんせい、いきます
❌ Mixing formality levels
Wrong: たべますよ、でもねる (mixing polite and casual)
Correct: たべますよ、でもねます (consistent politeness)
❌ Overusing formal language with close friends
Wrong: おかあさん、ごはんをたべます (overly formal with family)
Correct: おかあさん、ごはんたべる (appropriately casual)
Essential Grammar Points
ます Form Usage:
Present/future tense, used for ongoing actions, habitual actions, and future plans.Consistency is Key:
Maintain the same formality level throughout a conversation unless the situation changes.Context Matters:
The same person might require different formality levels in different situations.Age and Status:
Generally use ます form with people older than you or in higher social positions.
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of verb conjugation and formality:
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