Japanese Verbs Ten

In this Japanese Verbs Ten, of the Learn Japanese series, we will look at the idea of how to put across the idea of "doing ...again" and "continuing to do ..."  We do this again by just by adding a suffix to the stem of any Japanese verb.

Let's begin with the idea of "doing ...again," or "repairing something." As you will appreciate this will apply to doing things, so you won't be able to use this with every verb, because it won't make sense.

For this, the suffix will be naosu.

For all verbs just add this to the regular stem.

Basically, take the verb stem and then just add the ending ...naosu.

For example, the verb yomu, which means to read:

Verb stem = yomi. Now add "naosu," which becomes yominaosu, which means "re-read."

This basically creates a new verb, so all you need to do is apply the rules for making the various tenses.

Plain Form   Verb Stem   "+naosu"    Kanji/Kana

Suru           shi                shinaosu           しなおす

Verbs that end in "ru:"

Kangaeru    kangae          kangaenaosu     考えなおす

Miru            mi                 minaosu           見なおす

Verbs that end in "u:"

Kaku          kaki                kakinaosu         書きなおす

Yaru           yari                yarinaosu          やりなおす

After the word list are a few examples:

Address book = 住所録 =　じゅうしょろく　new = 新しい =　あたらしい　thing = もの　

lunch =  お昼   after =  後で = あとで   telephone = 電話 =　でんわ　　

report = 報告書 =　ほうこくしょ　write again = 書き直す =  かきなおす

Jill brought her address book up to date. 

   ジルは住所録を新しいものに書き直した。

I will call her again after lunch.　

    お昼の後で電話をかけなおす。

I can't read this report, so would you please write it again.

   この報告書を読めないから書き直してください。

To say that "one should continue ...ing something."

Plain Form   Verb Stem   "+tsuzukeru"     Kanji/Kana

Suru            shi             shitsuzukeru         し続ける

Verbs that end in "ru:"

Miru             mi              mitsuzukeru         見続ける

Taberu         tabe           tabetsuzukeru       食べ続ける

Verbs that end in "u:"

Katsu          kachi          kachitsuzukeru       勝ち続ける

Yomu           yomi          yomitsuzukeru        読み続ける

After the word list are a few examples:

Jill = ジル　argument = 喧嘩 =　けんか　after = 後で =　あとで　

to remain silent = 黙り続ける = 　だまりつづける

a break = 休憩 =　きゅうけい　until = まで　music = 音楽 =　おんがく　

to listen to 聴く =　きく

After the argument, Jill remained silent.　

    ジルは喧嘩の後で黙り続けました。

He continued reading up to the break.

　 彼は休憩まで読み続けました。

Please continue listening to the music.

　音楽を聴き続けてください。

Practice

Basic Japanese vocabulary for the below exercise.

It's written first in English, then kanji and finally hiragana:

Even though = のに  movie =  映画　えいが　lunch = 昼食 = ちゅうしょく

a public lottery = 宝くじ =　たからくじ　to win = 当たる = あたる　work = 仕事 =　しごと

plan = 計画 =　けいかく　to review = 練りなおす =　ねりなおす　various = いろいろな

mistake(s) =　間違い =　まちがい　because = から　

report(s) = 報告書 =　ほうこくしょ　exam = 試験 =　しけん　before = 前 =　まえ　

address book = 住所録 = 　じゅうしょろく   new = 新しい =　あたらしい　thing もの　

car = 車 =　くるま　to have second thoughts = 考え直す　Japan = 日本 =　にほん

to go = 行く =　いく   Japanese = 　日本語 =　にほんご

to brush up = やり直す = やりなおすintention = つもり

many times = 何回も =　なんかいも   tune = 曲 =　きょく　to play = 弾く　ひく

Once you have done it, click here to see how you did.

Now, do it again and again until you are perfect and fast.

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Reminder!

The only way to remember all this in Japanese Verbs Ten is to practice it on a regular basis.

The best way to do this is:

1. Come back to this page regularly and check yourself on the above 9 Japanese phrases.
2. Write an example of each of the tenses in a small note book, so as to practice them when you have nothing to do, like waiting for a bus.
3. Learn Japanese kanji by also writing the above kanji in a separate notebook and practicing these on a regular basis too.
   

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