The JLPT N3 level is the middle level of the 5 JLPT levels. It is considered the intermediate Japanese level. Here is a list of verbs that you need to know to pass the JLPT N3 examinations, a refresher on how to conjugate Japanese verbs, and example sentences using the verbs covered.
Table of Contents
- Refresh Your Knowledge on Japanese Verb Types
- N3 Ru-Verbs
- N3 U-Verbs
- N3 Suru-Verbs
- Challenge the N3 Verbs Quiz !
Refresh Your Knowledge on Japanese Verb Types
At the N3 level, you need to learn the meaning and conjugation of different types of verbs. Understand the basic forms and pay attention to conjugations.
Ru-Verb / U-Verb / Suru-Verb
Let’s review the 3 verb forms that we learnt in N5~N4 levels.
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る動詞 (ru-doushi) - verbs that end with る (ru), eg. “現れる (arawareru) - to appear”, “感じる (kanjiru) - to feel”
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う動詞 (u-doushi) - verbs that end with う (u), eg. “失う (ushinau) - to lose”, “好む (konomu) - to prefer”. U-verbs are called “辞書形 (jishokei) - dictionary form”.
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する動詞 (suru-doushi) - nouns that becomes verbs when する (suru) is added to the end, eg. “変更する (henkousuru) - to change”, “帰国する (kikokusuru) - to go back to home country”.
For 他動詞 (ta-doushi) / 自動詞 (ji-doushi), aka transitive and intransitive verbs, please refer to the explanation in the N4 Verbs List Article.
N3 Verbs’ Causative Expressions
使役 (shieki) is, expressed with「~させる 」(~saseru), a grammar form indicating that a person is given permission to do something, or forced to perform an action.
How to Conjugate Causative Verbs
【Ru-Verb】Change the ru-verb to present negative form, remove ない (nai), and add させる (saseru).
Example: 開ける (akeru) → 開けない (akenai) + させる (saseru) = 開けさせる (akesaseru)
【U-Verb】Change the u-verb to present negative form, remove ない (nai), and add せる (seru).
Example: 読む (yomu) → 読まない (yomanai) + せる (seru) = 読ませる (yomaseru)
【Suru-Verb】Remove する (suru), and add させる (saseru).
Example: 確認する (kakuninsuru) → 確認する (kakuninsuru) + させる (saseru) = 確認させる (kakuninsaseru)
【Irregular Verbs】Change to present negative form, remove ない (nai), and add させる (saseru).
Example: 来る (kuru) → 来ない (konai) + させる (saseru) = 来させる (kosaseru)
How to Use Causative Verbs
Causative Verb : Expressing Permission
Example: 参加する (sankasuru) → 参加させる (sankasaseru)
子どもをイベントに参加させることにした
(kodomo o ibento ni sankasaseru koto ni shita)
- I let my child participate in the event.
Causative Verb : Expressing Force to Perform an Action
Example: 歩く (aruku) → 歩かせる (arukaseru)
子どもを駅まで歩かせた。
(kodomo o eki made arukaseta)
- I made my child walk to the station.
Writer's Pick
N3 Ru-verbs
Ru-verb Conjugation
Ru-verb Example Sentences
Use the example sentence to practice Japanese conversation !
A : あなたは、この話についてどのように感じましたか?
B:わたしは、この話を聞いてとても面白いと感じました。
A : anata wa, kono hanashi nitsuite donoyouni kanjimashitaka?
B : watashi wa, kono hanashi o kiite totemo omoshiroi to kanjimashita.
A : How did you feel about the story?
B : I found the story very interesting.
N3 Ru-verbs List
There are 35 Ru-verbs to learn for the N3 level.
Remember the Kanji for verbs in BOLD.
あげる |
揚げる |
to deep-fry |
あげる |
挙げる |
to raise |
あける |
明ける |
to dawn; to break dawn |
あこがれる |
憧れる |
to yearn |
あずける |
預ける |
to deposit; to put in someone's care |
あたえる |
与える |
to give |
あたためる |
温める |
to warm (something) |
あらわれる |
現れる |
to appear |
あわせる |
合わせる |
to adjust |
うけとる |
受け取る |
to receive; to understand |
うれる |
売れる |
to sell (well) |
える |
得る |
to obtain |
おえる |
終える |
to finish |
おさめる |
収める |
to supply; to dedicate; |
かえる |
変える |
to change |
かさねる |
重ねる |
to pile |
かんじる |
感じる |
to feel |
きにいる |
気に入る |
to like; to take a liking to |
くみたてる |
組み立てる |
to assemble |
くわえる |
加える |
to add |
ける |
蹴る |
to kick |
さける |
避ける |
to avoid |
すすめる |
進める |
to proceed |
たてる |
立てる |
to stand (something) up |
たとえる |
例える |
to liken (something to) |
とじる |
閉じる |
to close |
とどける |
届ける |
to deliver |
とりあげる |
取り上げる |
to pick up |
とれる |
取れる |
to come off; to be removed; |
ながめる |
眺める |
to gaze |
ながれる |
流れる |
to flow |
なげる |
投げる |
to throw |
まげる |
曲げる |
to bend |
みとめる |
認める |
to admit |
わける |
分ける |
to divide |
N3 U-verbs
U-verb Conjugation
U-verb Example Sentences
Use the example sentence to practice Japanese conversation !
A : あなたは、どんな夏休みを過ごしましたか。
B:わたしは、帰国して家族と楽しく過ごしました。
A : anata wa, donna natsuyasumi o sugoshimashitaka?
B : watashi wa, kikokushite kazoku to tanoshiku sugoshimashita.
A : How did you spend your summer holiday?
B : I went back to my home country and had a good time with my family.
N3 U-verbs List
There are 90 U-verbs to learn for the N3 level.
Remember the Kanji for verbs in BOLD.
あずかる |
預かる |
to look after |
あたたまる |
暖まる |
to warm |
あく |
空く |
to be vacant; to be empty |
あたる |
当たる |
to hit |
あつかう |
扱う |
to handle |
あむ |
編む |
to knit |
あらわす |
表す |
to indicate; to express |
いわう |
祝う |
to celebrate |
うく |
浮く |
to float |
こおる |
凍る |
to freeze |
ことなる |
異なる |
to differ |
うごかす |
動かす |
to move (something) |
うしなう |
失う |
to lose |
きづく |
気づく |
to notice |
なくす |
失くす |
to lose |
うたがう |
疑う |
to doubt |
うつ |
打つ |
to hit; to type; to strike |
このむ |
好む |
to prefer |
うつす |
移す |
to move |
うつす |
映す |
to reflect; to project |
うつる |
映る |
to be reflected |
うむ |
産む |
to give birth |
おう |
追う |
to follow |
おかす |
犯す |
to commit |
おぎなう |
補う |
to make up for something; |
おこす |
(問題を) |
to cause (a problem) |
おどろかす |
驚かす |
to surprise |
くわわる |
加わる |
to join |
くりかえす |
繰り返す |
to repeat |
かがやく |
輝く |
to sparkle |
かぐ |
嗅ぐ |
to smell |
かくす |
隠す |
to hide; to conceal |
かこむ |
囲む |
to surround |
かる |
刈る |
to mow |
かわかす |
乾かす |
to dry |
こぼす |
- |
to spill |
ころぶ |
転ぶ |
to fall down; to fall over |
さけぶ |
叫ぶ |
to yell |
さす |
刺す |
to stab |
さす |
指す |
to point |
さます |
冷ます |
to let something cool |
さわぐ |
騒ぐ |
to make noise |
しずむ |
沈む |
to sink |
しばる |
縛る |
to bind |
しめす |
示す |
to show; to indicate |
すくう |
救う |
to save |
すごす |
過ごす |
to spend |
そそぐ |
注ぐ |
to pour |
だく |
抱く |
to hug |
たすかる |
助かる |
to be saved |
たたかう |
戦う |
to fight; to battle |
たたく |
叩く |
to hit; to slap |
たたむ |
畳む |
to fold |
だまる |
黙る |
to be silent |
ためす |
試す |
to try |
ちかう |
誓う |
to swear |
ちぢむ |
縮む |
to shrink |
つかむ |
掴む |
to grab |
つくる |
造る |
to create; to build |
つなぐ |
繋ぐ |
to connect |
つぶす |
潰す |
to crush |
つむ |
積む |
to load; to pile up |
であう |
出会う |
to meet (by chance); |
ながす |
流す |
to flush |
なくなる |
無くなる |
to disappear |
にあう |
似合う |
to suit well |
におう |
臭う |
to smell |
ねがう |
願う |
to wish; to hope |
のこす |
残す |
to leave (food, message, etc) |
のこる |
残る |
to remain |
のぞく |
除く |
to exclude |
のばす |
延ばす |
to postpone |
はずす |
外す |
to remove; to undo; |
はやる |
流行る |
to be popular; to trend |
ひく |
引く |
to pull |
ふく |
拭く |
to wipe |
ふくむ |
含む |
to include |
ふせぐ |
防ぐ |
to prevent |
ぶつかる |
- |
to bump into |
ふやす |
増やす |
to increase |
まぜる |
混ぜる |
to mix |
まなぶ |
学ぶ |
to study (in depth); to learn; |
まもる |
守る |
to protect |
まわす |
回す |
to turn |
むすぶ |
結ぶ |
to tie |
めだつ |
目立つ |
to stand out |
もやす |
燃やす |
to burn |
ゆるす |
許す |
to forgive |
よっぱらう |
酔っぱらう |
to get drunk |
わる |
割る |
to break |
N3 Suru-verbs
Suru-verb Conjugation
Suru-verbs Example Sentences
Use the example sentence to practice Japanese conversation !
A:バスを降りるとき、忘れ物がないか確認しましたか?
B:いいえ、確認しませんでした。
A : basu o oriru toki, wasuremono ga naika kakuninshimashitaka?
B : iie, kakuninshimasendeshita.
A : When you got off the bus, did you check if you had forgotten anything?
B : No, I didn’t check.
N3 Suru-verbs List
There are 71 Suru-verbs to learn for the N3 level.
Remember the Kanji for verbs in BOLD.
あんてい |
安定 |
to be stable |
いたずら |
悪戯 |
to play a prank |
うわさ |
噂 |
to tell rumors |
うんてん |
運転 |
to operate; to drive |
えいきょう |
影響 |
to influence |
かいけつ |
解決 |
to solve |
かいし |
開始 |
to start |
がいしゅつ |
外出 |
to go out |
かいふく |
回復 |
to recover |
かくだい |
拡大 |
to expand; to zoom in |
せいり |
整理 |
to organize |
せんたく |
選択 |
to choose |
かくにん |
確認 |
to confirm |
かつどう |
活動 |
to be active in |
しよう |
使用 |
to use |
がまん |
我慢 |
to bear; to endure; to put up with |
かんせい |
完成 |
to complete |
かんりょう |
完了 |
to conclude; to complete |
せんでん |
宣伝 |
to advertise |
きこく |
帰国 |
to go back to my country |
きょうつう |
共通 |
to have in common |
きろく |
記録 |
to record |
くふう |
工夫 |
to devise |
くべつ |
区別 |
to distinguish |
けってい |
決定 |
to decide |
けんさ |
検査 |
to inspect |
こうどう |
行動 |
to act |
こんらん |
混乱 |
to be confused |
せいげん |
制限 |
to restrict; to limit |
しょうめい |
証明 |
to prove; to verify |
さつえい |
撮影 |
to take a photo; to film |
しげき |
刺激 |
to stimulate |
じさつ |
自殺 |
to commit suicide |
したく |
支度 |
to prepare |
しぼう |
死亡 |
to die |
しゅちょう |
主張 |
to insist |
そうぞう |
想像 |
to imagine |
たいおう |
対応 |
to respond |
ちゅうもく |
注目 |
to pay attention |
ちょうさ |
調査 |
to investigate |
ちょうせい |
調整 |
to adjust |
ちょうせん |
挑戦 |
to challenge |
ついか |
追加 |
to add |
ていあん |
提案 |
to suggest |
なっとく |
納得 |
to accept; to understand |
はっけん |
発見 |
to discover; to find out |
はったつ |
発達 |
to develop |
ひかく |
比較 |
to compare |
ひてい |
否定 |
to deny |
へんか |
変化 |
(something) change |
へんこう |
変更 |
to change (schedule) |
ほぞん |
保存 |
to preserve |
まんぞく |
満足 |
to be satisfied |
むし |
無視 |
to ignore |
よそう |
予想 |
to expect; to predict |
よぼう |
予防 |
to prevent |
りかい |
理解 |
to understand |
あんき |
暗記 |
to memorise; to learn by heart |
ぶんせき |
分析 |
to analyse |
れんぞく |
連続 |
to continue; to succeed |
りゅうがく |
留学 |
to study abroad |
せいちょう |
成長 |
to grow; to develop, to grow up; |
しんがく |
進学 |
to advance to the next stage of education; |
しょうたい |
招待 |
to invite |
しゅうちゅう |
集中 |
to concentrate; to focus |
しゅうかく |
収穫 |
to harvest (crops) |
つうがく |
通学 |
to commute to school |
てつや |
徹夜 |
to stay up all night |
ゆにゅう |
輸入 |
to import |
ゆしゅつ |
輸出 |
to export |
Challenge the N3 Verbs Quiz !
Choose the correct verb from 1 ~ 4 to fill in the ( ).
Question ① 彼は私に最後のチャンスを( )くれました。
1.合わせて 2.起こして 3.与えて 4.感じて
Question ② この絵から感じたことを文章で( あらわす )とどうなりますか。
1.現す 2.洗わす 3.著す 4.表す
Question ③【使役形】 雨が降りそうだったので、子どもを早く学校に( )。
1.行った 2.行かなかった 3.行きました 4.行かせた
Answers, English translation and Romaji reading at the end of the article.
To Close
There are many N3 verbs that have similar readings and meanings. Remember the verbs by paying attention to their conjugated forms. Memorise the verbs with example sentences to grasp their meaning and usage better. Check your Japanese level by solving past year N3 questions.
【Quiz Translation and Answers】
Question ① 彼は私に最後のチャンスを( 3. 与えて )くれました。
(kare wa watashi ni saigo no chansu o ataete kuremashita)
- He gave me one last chance.
Question ② この絵から感じたことを文章で( 4. 表す)とどうなりますか。
(kono e kara kanjita koto o bunshou de arawasu to dou narimasuka?)
- How would you describe in a sentence what you felt about this picture?
Question ③【使役形】 雨が降りそうだったので、子どもを早く学校に( 4.行かせた)。
(【shiekikei】 ame ga furisoudatta node, kodomo o hayaku gakkou ni ikaseta)
- 【Causative Form】 It looked like it was going to rain, so I had my child go to school early.
Quiz Answers: [3], [4], [4]