聞く（きく）Conjugation
JLPT N5 · Godan verb (Group 1) · Meaning: to listen / ask
Full conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary form The base form — casual speech and the stem for many grammar patterns. | 聞く | きく |
| masu (polite present) Polite present/future affirmative. | 聞きます | ききます |
| masen (polite negative) Polite present negative. | 聞きません | ききません |
| mashita (polite past) Polite past affirmative. | 聞きました | ききました |
| masen deshita (polite past neg.) Polite past negative. | 聞きませんでした | ききませんでした |
| te-form The most versatile form — linking, requests, progressive and more. | 聞いて | きいて |
| ta (plain past) Plain past affirmative. | 聞いた | きいた |
| nai (plain negative) Plain present negative. | 聞かない | きかない |
| nakatta (plain past neg.) Plain past negative. | 聞かなかった | きかなかった |
| Potential Ability or possibility — 'can do'. | 聞ける | きける |
| Passive Passive voice — 'to be done to'. | 聞かれる | きかれる |
| Causative Causative — 'to make/let someone do'. | 聞かせる | きかせる |
| Volitional Volitional — 'let's…' or intention. | 聞こう | きこう |
| Imperative Imperative — a strong command; used sparingly. | 聞け | きけ |
| Prohibitive Prohibitive — 'don't do it!'. | 聞くな | きくな |
| Conditional (ba) Hypothetical 'if' — leans written. | 聞けば | きけば |
| Conditional (tara) The most versatile everyday 'if / when'. | 聞いたら | きいたら |
Example sentences
- 音楽を聞きながら勉強する。 — I study while listening to music.
- わからないことを先生に聞いた。 — I asked the teacher about the things I didn't understand.
See the word page for "聞く" (meaning, pitch, audio) →