Dictionary Form — The Plain Base
The plain, uninflected base form of a verb (the form listed in dictionaries). Used in casual speech for present/future actions, and as the required base for many later grammar patterns.
Structure
All dictionary-form verbs end in an -u vowel sound: う, く, ぐ, す, つ, ぬ, ぶ, む, る.
Examples
明日、アニメを見る。
Ashita, anime o miru.
I'll watch anime tomorrow.
明日 (tomorrow) + アニメを (anime, object) + 見る (watch, dictionary form — no ます, casual)
毎朝コーヒーを飲む。
Maiasa koohii o nomu.
I drink coffee every morning.
飲む (drink, dictionary form) — the plain form states a habit in casual speech
今日は早く寝る。
Kyou wa hayaku neru.
I'll go to bed early today.
寝る (sleep, dictionary form) — the plain form also covers future intentions
• Tense architecture: Japanese has no separate 'future tense.' The dictionary form covers BOTH habit (I watch anime) AND future intent (I will watch anime); context supplies the timeline. • Register: Dictionary form is plain/casual. For polite speech, switch to the ます form (見ます).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones Dictionary is tested against.
vs Dictionary form vs ます form
Same meaning; different politeness. 見る is plain/casual (friends, family); 見ます is polite (strangers, work). The dictionary form is also what attaches to grammar like 〜前に, 〜つもり, 〜こと.
More verb forms
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