Japanese reference
歌う
うたう
to sing
Regular · 32 form tables
Rows describe verb forms and levels of politeness. Honorific and humble forms are labeled separately. Strong commands appear under additional forms.
Audio requires a compatible voice in your browser.
Basic
Non past
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Dictionary form | うたう (utau)sing |
| Polite, masu | うたいます (utaimasu)sing |
Negative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Negative, nai | うたわない (utawanai)do not sing |
| Polite negative | うたいません (utaimasen)do not sing |
Past
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Past, ta | うたった (utatta)sang |
| Polite past | うたいました (utaimashita)sang |
Past negative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Past negative | うたわなかった (utawanakatta)did not sing |
| Polite past negative | うたいませんでした (utaimasendeshita)did not sing |
Linking
Te form
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Te-form | うたって (utatte)singing (and then) |
| Polite te-form | うたいまして (utaimashite)singing (and then) |
Te iru
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Te-iru: ongoing action / resulting state | うたっている (utatteiru)be singing |
| Polite te-iru | うたっています (utatteimasu)be singing |
Conditional, ba
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Conditional, ba | うたえば (utaeba)if you sing |
| Rare literary polite conditional | うたいますれば (utaimasureba)if you sing (rare and literary). In ordinary polite conversation, use the plain conditional and make the main clause polite |
Conditional, tara
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Conditional, tara | うたったら (utattara)if you sing |
| Polite conditional, tara | うたいましたら (utaimashitara)if you sing |
Mood
Potential
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Potential | うたえる (utaeru)can sing |
| Polite potential | うたえます (utaemasu)can sing |
Volitional
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Volitional | うたおう (utaou)let's sing! |
| Polite volitional | うたいましょう (utaimashou)let's sing! |
Desire, tai
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Desire, tai | うたいたい (utaitai)want to sing |
| Polite desire, tai | うたいたいです (utaitaidesu)want to sing |
Voice
Passive
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Passive | うたわれる (utawareru)be sung |
| Polite passive | うたわれます (utawaremasu)be sung |
Causative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Causative | うたわせる (utawaseru)make or let someone sing |
| Polite causative | うたわせます (utawasemasu)make or let someone sing |
Causative passive
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Causative-passive | うたわせられる (utawaserareru)be made to sing |
| Polite causative-passive | うたわせられます (utawaseraremasu)be made to sing |
Commands
Negative imperative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Negative imperative | うたうな (utauna)do not sing! |
| Polite negative request | うたわないでください (utawanaidekudasai)please do not sing |
Polite
Polite non past
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Polite non-past form | うたいます (utaimasu)sing |
Polite negative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Polite negative form | うたいません (utaimasen)do not sing |
Polite past
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Polite past form | うたいました (utaimashita)sang |
Polite past negative
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Polite past negative form | うたいませんでした (utaimasendeshita)did not sing |
Requests
Request with kudasai
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Request with kudasai | うたってください (utattekudasai)please sing |
Negative request
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Request not to act | うたわないでください (utawanaidekudasai)please do not sing |
Invitation with mashou
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Invitation with mashou | うたいましょう (utaimashou)let's sing! |
Permission
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Permission | うたってもいい (utattemoii)may sing |
| Polite permission | うたってもいいです (utattemoiidesu)may sing |
Not allowed
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Not allowed | うたってはいけない (utattehaikenai)must not sing |
| Polite prohibition | うたってはいけません (utattehaikemasen)must not sing |
Instruction with nasai
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Instruction with nasai | うたいなさい (utainasai)sing (instruction) |
Aspect
Try doing
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Try doing | うたってみる (utattemiru)try to sing |
| Polite try doing | うたってみます (utattemimasu)try to sing |
Completion or regret
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Completion or regret | うたってしまう (utatteshimau)sing completely or regrettably |
| Polite completion or regret | うたってしまいます (utatteshimaimasu)sing completely or regrettably |
Preparation
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Preparation | うたっておく (utatteoku)sing in advance |
| Polite preparation | うたっておきます (utatteokimasu)sing in advance |
Past experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Past experience | うたったことがある (utattakotogaaru)have the experience of: sang |
| Polite past experience | うたったことがあります (utattakotogaarimasu)have the experience of: sang |
Conditions
Automatic result, to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Automatic result, to | うたうと (utauto)whenever you sing |
| Polite automatic result | うたいますと (utaimasuto)whenever you sing |
Given that, nara
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Given that, nara | うたうなら (utaunara)if you mean to sing |
Probability
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Probability | うたうだろう (utaudarou)probably sing |
| Polite probability | うたうでしょう (utaudeshou)probably sing |
Additional forms
Strong command
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| Imperative | うたえ (utae)sing! |
| Polite request | うたってください (utattekudasai)please sing |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Japanese entries.