- ある / あります: things, plants, events: ほんがあります.
- いる / います: people and animals: ねこがいます.
- Both also mean to have: じかんがあります (I have time), あにがいます (I have a brother).
- Negatives: ありません / ない and いません / いない.
The rule
| ある (あります) | いる (います) | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | objects, plants, places, events | people, animals |
| Example | つくえがあります there’s a desk | せんせいがいます there’s a teacher |
| Negative | ありません / ない | いません / いない |
| Past | ありました / あった | いました / いた |
- へやにテレビがありますheya ni terebi ga arimasuThere’s a TV in the room.
- へやにいぬがいますheya ni inu ga imasuThere’s a dog in the room.
- にわにきがありますniwa ni ki ga arimasuThere’s a tree in the garden.Plants are alive, but don’t move: ある.
Using them for “to have”
- じかんがありますかjikan ga arimasu kaDo you have time?
- おかねがありませんokane ga arimasenI don’t have money.
- きょうだいがいますkyōdai ga imasuI have siblings.
- ペットはいませんpetto wa imasenI don’t have pets.
- あしたテストがありますashita tesuto ga arimasuI have a test tomorrow.Events use ある.
Saying where something is
Location takes に, the thing takes が (or は if it’s the topic):
- えきのまえにコンビニがありますeki no mae ni konbini ga arimasuThere’s a convenience store in front of the station.
- たなかさんはかいぎしつにいますTanaka-san wa kaigishitsu ni imasuTanaka-san is in the meeting room.
Position words like まえ are in position words in Japanese; に is explained in に vs. で.
Edge cases
- Robots, cars and buses: usually ある, but a bus or taxi waiting with a driver is often described with いる: タクシーがいます.
- Dead fish at the market: ある. Fish swimming in a tank: いる.
- Events (parties, tests, meetings) always use ある.
Casual forms in conversation
Among friends, the plain forms are used constantly, often with a rising tone as questions:
- じかんある？jikan aru?Got time?
- ううん、ないuun, naiNah, I don’t.
- いまどこにいる？ima doko ni iru?Where are you now?
- えきにいるよeki ni iru yoI’m at the station.
- だれかいる？dareka iru?Is anyone there?
Don’t confuse いる with 〜ている
The same いる appears in the ongoing form 〜ています: たべています (I’m eating). There it doesn’t mean exist; it’s a helper verb. And it works with any subject, even objects: ドアがあいています (the door is open). So: いる on its own = a living thing is there; 〜ている = an ongoing action or state. More in the て-form.
Polite versions
| Normal | Very polite / humble | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| あります | ございます | things (shops, hotels) |
| います | おります | yourself or your side (humble) |
| います | いらっしゃいます | others (respectful) |
- トイレはあちらにございますtoire wa achira ni gozaimasuThe toilet is over there. (very polite)
- たなかはいま、せきをはずしておりますTanaka wa ima, seki o hazushite orimasuTanaka is away from her desk at the moment.Typical business phone phrase.
You’ll hear these from staff everywhere. More in keigo for beginners.
つくえのうえにほんが＿
こうえんにこどもが＿
あしたパーティーが＿
“I don’t have time.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between aru and iru?
ある (arimasu) is used for inanimate things, plants and events. いる (imasu) is used for people and animals, which move on their own.
How do you say I have in Japanese?
Use ある for things (じかんがあります, I have time) and いる for people and animals (あにがいます, I have an older brother).
What is the negative of aru?
Polite: ありません. Plain: ない (not あらない).
Do you use aru or iru for plants?
Plants use ある, because they don't move on their own: 庭に木があります (there is a tree in the garden).
What is the polite form of arimasu?
The very polite form is ございます (gozaimasu), commonly used by shop and hotel staff.