働く(はたらく)Conjugation

JLPT N5 · Godan verb (Group 1) · Meaning: to work

Full conjugation table

FormJapaneseReading
Dictionary form
The base form — casual speech and the stem for many grammar patterns.
働くはたらく
masu (polite present)
Polite present/future affirmative.
働きますはたらきます
masen (polite negative)
Polite present negative.
働きませんはたらきません
mashita (polite past)
Polite past affirmative.
働きましたはたらきました
masen deshita (polite past neg.)
Polite past negative.
働きませんでしたはたらきませんでした
te-form
The most versatile form — linking, requests, progressive and more.
働いてはたらいて
ta (plain past)
Plain past affirmative.
働いたはたらいた
nai (plain negative)
Plain present negative.
働かないはたらかない
nakatta (plain past neg.)
Plain past negative.
働かなかったはたらかなかった
Potential
Ability or possibility — 'can do'.
働けるはたらける
Passive
Passive voice — 'to be done to'.
働かれるはたらかれる
Causative
Causative — 'to make/let someone do'.
働かせるはたらかせる
Volitional
Volitional — 'let's…' or intention.
働こうはたらこう
Imperative
Imperative — a strong command; used sparingly.
働けはたらけ
Prohibitive
Prohibitive — 'don't do it!'.
働くなはたらくな
Conditional (ba)
Hypothetical 'if' — leans written.
働けばはたらけば
Conditional (tara)
The most versatile everyday 'if / when'.
働いたらはたらいたら

Example sentences

See the word page for "働く" (meaning, pitch, audio) →

All conjugation tables →

Keep learning