Yes. In Japanese, many verbs and expressions can have different meanings; it all depends on the context. Some languages have specific, separate verbs to express the same ideas that one single verb can express in Japanese. For example:
ある【aru】can mean "to have" or "there is/are"
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 私は赤いかばんがあります。 【Watashi wa akai kaban ga arimasu.】 I have a red bag. |
| 公園に池があります。 【Kōen ni ike ga arimasu.】 There is a pond in the park. |
聞く【きく, kiku】can mean "to listen" or "to hear"
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 音楽を聞きます。 【Ongaku o kikimasu.】 I listen to music. |
| 雨の音を聞きます。 【Ame no oto o kikimasu.】 I hear the sound of the rain. |
見る【みる, miru】can mean "to watch", "to see" or "to look at"
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 映画を見ます。 【Eiga o mimasu.】 I watch a movie. |
| 昔の写真を見ます。 【Mukashi no shashin o mimasu.】 I look at old photos. |
吸う【すう, sū】can mean "to inhale/breathe in" or "to smoke"
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 山の空気を吸います。 【Yama no kūki o suimasu.】 I breathe in the mountain air. |
| たばこを吸います。 【Tabako o suimasu.】 I smoke. |
する【suru】can mean "to do" or "to play"
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 明日何をしますか。 【Ashita nani o shimasu ka?】 What will you do tomorrow? |
| サッカーをします。 【Sakkā o shimasu.】 I play soccer. |
| ビデオゲームをします。 【Bideo gēmu o shimasu.】 I play video games. |
食べる【たべる, taberu】and expressions for meals
食べる【たべる, taberu】usually means "to eat," and is used where English often uses "to have" in the context of meals: i.e. "to have breakfast," "to have lunch," or "to have dinner".
| Japanese / rōmaji / meaning |
|---|
| 朝ご飯を食べます。 【Asagohan o tabemasu.】 I have breakfast. |
| 昼ご飯を食べます。 【Hirugohan o tabemasu.】 I have lunch. |
| 晩ご飯を食べます。 【Bangohan o tabemasu.】 I have dinner. |
Every language has its own means of expression. Sometimes a single Japanese word can be translated in a number of ways in another language, and vice versa. That's why it's important to learn words in context, instead of trying to find a single exact translation every time.
At Khanji School, we cover these kinds of nuances alongside grammar and vocabulary, so you don't just learn individual words, but how and when to use them properly.
Frequently asked questions about Japanese verbs
Can a Japanese verb have more than one meaning?
Yes. Many Japanese verbs can be translated in different ways depending on the context. For example, 聞く【きく, kiku】can mean "to listen" or "to hear".
Do I have to memorize every translation of a Japanese verb?
Not necessarily. It is more useful to learn each verb as part of an example sentence and in the context of specific situations. This will make it easier to understand what a word means in each specific case.
Why can a single Japanese verb have more than one meaning?
Every language has its own means of expression. Sometimes a single word in Japanese can have several translations in other languages, and sometimes vice versa.
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