“To eat” in Japanese is 食べる (たべる), pronounced taberu.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
The basic verb for eating. Before a meal people say いただきます, after it ごちそうさまでした.
Example sentences
- 朝ご飯を食べましたか。あさごはんをたべましたか。Did you eat breakfast?
- 一緒に食べませんか。いっしょにたべませんか。Shall we eat together?
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 食べる. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 食べる たべる | eat |
| Polite present | 食べます たべます | eat |
| Polite negative | 食べません たべません | don’t eat |
| Polite past | 食べました たべました | past of “eat” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 食べない たべない | don’t eat (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 食べた たべた | past of “eat” (casual) |
| て-form | 食べて たべて | eat and… / please eat (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 食べたい たべたい | want to eat |
Quick practice
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to eat in Japanese?
To eat in Japanese is 食べる (たべる), pronounced “taberu”.
How do you write to eat in Japanese?
It's written 食べる with kanji, or たべる in hiragana. Both are read taberu.
Is 食べる on the JLPT?
Yes. 食べる (taberu) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.