Japanese Verbs Twenty Three

In this Japanese Verbs Twenty Three, of our Learn Japanese series, we will learn how to say "the more you do something, the more ..." as well as the idea of "No matter ..."

For example, you want to say:

         "The more you study , the smarter you get."

First minus the final "u" from the plain form of the verb:

         to study = benkyou suru = benkyou sur

Next add eba on to the verb:

         benkyou sur = benkyou sureba

Next add the plain form of the verb:

         benkyou sureba suru

Then add hodo:

         benkyou sureba suru hodo

Finally add the rest of the words for your sentence:

       benkyou sureba suru hodo atama ga yoku narimasu. 

   

After the word list are a few examples:

To climb =  上る = のぼる difficult(as an adverb) = 難しく = むずかしく 

as an adjective = むずかしい to become = なる   sweet = 甘い = あまい thing = もの 

to be fat(as an adverb) = 太く = ふとく as an adjective - ふとい 

to study = 勉強する = べんきょうする head = 頭 = あたま good(as an adverb) = よく

as an adjective = いい clever = 頭が いい

 The higher you climb, the more difficult it gets. 

   上れば上るほど難しくなります。

The more you eat sweet things, the fatter you'll get.

   甘いものを食べれば食べるほど太くなります。

The more I studied, the smarter I got.

  私は勉強すればするほど頭がよくなりました。


When you want to say
"However much(or no matter how many times) I ..."
use ikura ...te mo.

For example:  

After the below word list are a few examples:

This = この problem = 問題 = もんだい to solve = 解決する = かいけつする

a particle that turns a verb into a noun = の to do(more familiar than suru) = やる

this kind of  = こんな to be fat = 太る = ふとる guitar = ギター 

to practice = 練習する = れんしゅうする  still = まだ to be poor at = 下手 = へた 


 No matter how many times I tried to solve this problem, I couldn't do it.

    この問題を解決するのはいくらやってもできませんでした。 

You won't gain weight, no matter how much of this kind of food you eat.

    こんな食べ物ををいくら食べても太りません。

No matter how much he practices the guitar, he’s still poor at it.

    彼はいくらギターを練習してもまだ下手です。


You can use similar constructions for "Whatever..."
or "Wherever ..."

or "Whenever ..." and "Whoever..."

After the below word list are a few examples:

To be welcome = 歓迎する = かんげいする now= 今 = いま who=  誰 = だれ

inside = 中 = なか to enter = 入る = はいる what = 何  = なに  well = よく 

to be able to do = できる he = 彼 = かれ like = 好き = すき 

Whenever you come, you will be welcomed. 

    いつ来ても歓迎しますよ。

Whoever comes, I won’t let them in. 

   今誰が来ても中には入らせません。

Whatever he does, he does it well.

   かれは何をやってもよくできます。

Wherever he goes, he likes it.

 彼はどこに行っても好きです。


Practice

Basic Japanese vocabulary for the below exercise.

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

To run = 走る = はしる to be tired = 疲れる = つかれる beer = ビール 

to get drunk = 酔っ払う = よっぱらう his = 彼の = かれの book = 本 ほん 

math = 数学 = すうがく to understand = 分かる = わかる to sleep = 寝る = ねる

street = 道路 = どうろ crossing = 横断 = おうだん 

to be careful = 注意する = ちゅういする 

to do too much = し過ぎる = しすぎる one cannot = ことはありません

to praise = ほめる won’t run out of praise ほめきれる rock = ロック 

music = 音楽 = おんがく to listen = 聴く  = きく to tire of = 飽きる  =  あきる

to be welcomed = 歓迎する = かんげいする now = 今 = いま who = 誰 = だれ 

inside = 中 = なか to enter = 入る はいる what = 何  =  なに to do = やる 

well = よく to be able to do = できる he = 彼 = かれ like = 好き = すき 

first = 始めて = はじめて everyone = みんな a drink = 飲み物 = のみもの 

okay = 大丈夫 = だいじょうぶ time = 時間 = じかん there is = ある 

to telephone = 電話する = でんわする please = ください


Try to translate English to Japanese for the below sentences, using the above list of words.

1. The more I ran the more tired I became.  

2. The more beer I drank the more drunk I became.  

3. The more I read his book the more I understood about maths.

4. However much he sleeps, he is still tired.

5. You cannot be too careful in crossing the street.

6. I cannot praise you too much.

7. He never tires of listening to rock music.

8. Whenever he comes, he will be welcomed. 

9. Wherever he goes, he will be welcomed. 

10. Whoever enters the bar first must buy everone a drink. 

11. Whatever he says, it’s okay.

12. Whenever you have the time, please call me.


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

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

The only way to remember all this in Japanese Verbs Twenty three 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 12 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.

Back to the Japanese words page