What does “erabu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “erabu” often to mean ‘to choose’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “erabu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “erabu”
- Erabanai: the nai form of “erabu”
- Erabou: the volitional form of “erabu”
- Erabimasu: the masu form of “erabu”
- Eranda: the past tense form of “erabu”
- Erande: the te form of “erabu”
- Erabeba: the ba form of “erabu”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “erabu”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “erabu”.
- erabu – 選ぶ (えらぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to choose’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to select’ or just ‘to pick’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “choose” in Japanese
watashi wa itsumo muzukashii kadai wo erabu – 私はいつも難しい課題を選ぶ (わたしはいつもむずかしいかだいをえらぶ)
I always choose difficult tasks.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- muzukashii – 難しい (むずかしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘difficult’ in Japanese.
- kadai – 課題 (かだい) : a noun meaning ‘task’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “muzukashii kadai” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “erabu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to choose’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is always a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “erabu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “erabanai”.
Erabanai: the nai form of “erabu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “erabanai”.
- erabanai – 選ばない (えらばない) : the nai form of “erabu”, which means ‘not to choose’, ‘not to select’, or ‘not to pick’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “erabanai” consists of the following two parts:
- eraba – 選ば (えらば) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “erabanai” is literally the nai form of “erabu” and means ‘not to choose’, ‘not to select’, or ‘not to pick’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not choose” in Japanese
boku wa muzukashii kadai wo erabanai – 僕は難しい課題を選ばない (ぼくはむずかしいかだいをえらばない)
I don’t choose difficult tasks.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
This is a typical usage of “erabanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to choose’ in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.
Erabou: the volitional form of “erabu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “erabou”.
- erabou – 選ぼう (えらぼう) : the volitional form of “erabu”, which expresses volition to choose, select, or pick.
Grammatically, “erabou” consists of the following two parts:
- erabo – 選ぼ (えらぼ) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “erabou” is literally the volitional form of “erabu” and expresses volition to choose, select, or pick in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s choose” in Japanese
ii mirai wo erabou – 良い未来を選ぼう (いいみらいをえらぼう)
Let’s choose a better future!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ii – 良い (いい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘good’ or such in Japanese.
- mirai – 未来 (みらい) : a noun meaning ‘future’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “erabou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s choose” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Erabimasu: the masu form of “erabu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “erabimasu”.
- erabimasu – 選びます (えらびます) : the masu form of “erabu”, which means ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “erabimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- erabi – 選び (えらび) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “erabimasu” is literally the masu form of “erabu” and means ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “choose” politely in Japanese
kanojo wa itsumo mizu wo erabimasu – 彼女はいつも水を選びます (かのじょはいつもみずをえらびます)
She always chooses water.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- mizu – 水 (みず) : a noun meaning ‘water’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “erabimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “choose” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Eranda: the past tense form of “erabu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “eranda”.
- eranda – 選んだ (えらんだ) : the past tense form of “erabu”, which means ‘chose’, ‘selected’, ‘picked’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “eranda” consists of the following two parts:
- eran – 選ん (えらん) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
- da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “eranda” is literally the past tense form of “erabu” and means ‘chose’, ‘selected’, ‘picked’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “chose” in Japanese
kinou kanojo ga amai nomimono wo eranda – 昨日彼女が甘い飲み物を選んだ (きのうかのじょがあまいのみものをえらんだ)
Yesterday, she chose a sweet drink.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
- amai – 甘い (あまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese.
- nomimono – 飲み物 (のみもの) : a noun meaning ‘drink’ or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “eranda”. When we want to use the past tense form of “erabu”, this form is the best option.
Erande: the te form of “erabu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “erande”.
- erande – 選んで (えらんで) : the te form of “erabu”, which means ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “erande” consists of the following two parts:
- eran – 選ん (えらん) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
- de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “erande” is literally the te form of “erabu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “erande” is very useful when we want to use “erabu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please choose” in Japanese
ii hon wo erande kudasai – 良い本を選んでください (いいほんをえらんでください)
Please choose good books.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- hon – 本 (ほん) : a noun meaning ‘book’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “erande” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “erande”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “erabu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Erabeba: the ba form of “erabu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “erabeba”.
- erabeba – 選べば (えらべば) : the ba form of “erabu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “erabeba” consists of the following two parts:
- erabe – 選べ (えらべ) : one conjugation of “erabu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “erabeba” is literally the ba form of “erabu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “erabeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if choose” in Japanese
ii hon wo erabeba, sekai wo hiroge rareru – 良い本を選べば、世界を広げられる (いいほんをえらべば、せかいをひろげられる)
If you choose good books, you can broaden your horizons.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- sekai – 世界 (せかい) : a noun meaning ‘world’ in Japanese.
- hiroge – 広げ (ひろげ) : one conjugation of the verb, “hirogeru”, which means ‘to broaden’ or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- rareru – られる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, this is used after “hiroge” to make its potential form, “hiroge rareru”, which means ‘can broaden’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “erabeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ii hon wo erabeba”, which means ‘if you choose good books’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to choose’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “erabu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- erabu – 選ぶ (えらぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to choose’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to select’ or just ‘to pick’ in Japanese.
- erabanai – 選ばない (えらばない) : the nai form of “erabu”, which means ‘not to choose’, ‘not to select’, or ‘not to pick’ in Japanese.
- erabou – 選ぼう (えらぼう) : the volitional form of “erabu”, which expresses volition to choose, select, or pick.
- erabimasu – 選びます (えらびます) : the masu form of “erabu”, which means ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ politely in Japanese.
- eranda – 選んだ (えらんだ) : the past tense form of “erabu”, which means ‘chose’, ‘selected’, ‘picked’, or such in Japanese.
- erande – 選んで (えらんで) : the te form of “erabu”, which means ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ in Japanese. When we want to use “erabu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- erabeba – 選べば (えらべば) : the ba form of “erabu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to choose’, ‘to select’, or ‘to pick’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
