The Japanese Te-Form: How to Make It and 8 Ways to Use It
The te-form is the Japanese verb form ending in て or で, such as 食べて (eat) or 読んで (read). On its own it doesn’t have a tense; instead it links verbs to other words to make requests (見てください, please look), “-ing” (見ています, I’m watching), lists of actions and much more. You make it by changing the verb ending according to its group, and once you learn the rules, it’s one of the most useful forms in Japanese.
How to make the te-form
| Verb ending | Change | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ru-verbs (group 2) | る → て | 食べる → 食べて、見る → 見て |
| う、つ、る (group 1) | → って | 買う → 買って、待つ → 待って、帰る → 帰って |
| む、ぶ、ぬ | → んで | 読む → 読んで、遊ぶ → 遊んで、死ぬ → 死んで |
| く | → いて | 書く → 書いて、聞く → 聞いて |
| ぐ | → いで | 泳ぐ → 泳いで、急ぐ → 急いで |
| す | → して | 話す → 話して、貸す → 貸して |
| Exception | 行く → 行って | 行って（not 行いて） |
| Irregular | する、来る | する → して、来る → 来て（きて） |
The te-form follows exactly the same changes as the past tense, so if you know 読んだ, you know 読んで. Not sure which group a verb is in? See verb conjugation basics.
Eight ways to use it
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ちょっと待ってください。 | chotto matte kudasai. | Please wait a moment. (request) |
| 今、本を読んでいます。 | ima, hon o yonde imasu. | I’m reading a book now. (ongoing action) |
| 朝起きて、シャワーを浴びて、出かけます。 | asa okite, shawā o abite, dekakemasu. | I get up, shower and go out. (linking actions) |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか？ | shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? | May I take a photo? (permission) |
| ここでたばこを吸ってはいけません。 | koko de tabako o sutte wa ikemasen. | You must not smoke here. (rules) |
| 一度食べてみてください。 | ichido tabete mite kudasai. | Try eating it once. (trying) |
| 宿題をしてから、遊びます。 | shukudai o shite kara, asobimasu. | I’ll play after doing my homework. (after) |
| 財布を忘れてしまいました。 | saifu o wasurete shimaimashita. | I (accidentally) forgot my wallet. (regret or completion) |
Common mistakes
- 行いて instead of 行って. 行く is the one く-verb that breaks the rule.
- Treating る-verbs the wrong way. 帰る and 切る look like ru-verbs but are group 1: 帰って, 切って.
- Using 〜ています only for “-ing”. It also describes a state: 結婚しています means “I’m married”, not “I’m getting married”.
How to make it automatic
Many learners memorise the rules with a song or chant, then practise by saying verbs aloud with 〜てください. Next, describe your day using linked te-forms. Using it in real conversation is what makes it stick; see Japanese conversation practice. When you’re ready, the te-form leads on to conditionals and passive and causative forms.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native tutors teach online, one-to-one or in small groups. In te-form lessons, your tutor drills the rules quickly, then gets you using requests, permission and “-ing” in role-plays until you produce them without stopping to think.