Kitaeru is the Japanese verb for ‘to train’, explained

What does “kitaeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kitaeru” often to mean ‘to train’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, video games, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “kitaeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kitaeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “train” in Japanese
• Kitaenai: the nai form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “not train” in Japanese
• Kitaeyou: the volitional form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s train” in Japanese
• Kitaemasu: the masu form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “train” politely in Japanese
• Kitaeta: the ta form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “trained” in Japanese
• Kitaete: the te form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please train” in Japanese
• Kitaereba: the ba form of “kitaeru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if train” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kitaeru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kitaeru”.

• kitaeru – 鍛える (きたえる) : a verb meaning ‘to train’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this verb when they put something in a difficult situation to extract its true value.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. The meanings seem to be based on the same concept. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “train” in Japanese

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.
• mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : a noun meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to mean ‘every day’ in Japanese.
• fukkin – 腹筋 (ふっきん) : a noun meaning ‘abs’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this works after “fukkin” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kitaeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to train’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kitaeru” 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 “kitaenai”.

Kitaenai: the nai form of “kitaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kitaenai”.

• kitaenai – 鍛えない (きたえない) : the nai form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘not to train’, ‘not to drill’, ‘not to forge’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kitaenai” consists of the following two parts:

• kitae – 鍛え (きたえ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. 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 “kitaenai” is literally the nai form of “kitaeru” and means ‘not to train’, ‘not to drill’, ‘not to forge’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not train” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• zenzen – 全然 (ぜんぜん) : an adverb working in a negative sentence to mean ‘at all’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kitaenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to train’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Kitaeyou: the volitional form of “kitaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kitaeyou”.

• kitaeyou – 鍛えよう (きたえよう) : the volitional form of “kitaeru”, which expresses volition to train, drill, forge, or such.

Grammatically, “kitaeyou” consists of the following two parts:

• kitae – 鍛え (きたえ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kitaeyou” is literally the volitional form of “kitaeru” and expresses volition to train, drill, forge, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s train” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kitaeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s train” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Kitaemasu: the masu form of “kitaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kitaemasu”.

• kitaemasu – 鍛えます (きたえます) : the masu form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kitaemasu” consists of the following two parts:

• kitae – 鍛え (きたえ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. 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 “kitaemasu” is literally the masu form of “kitaeru” and means ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “train” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• maitoshi – 毎年 (まいとし) : a noun meaning ‘every year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “every year” in Japanese.
• koko – ここ : a pronoun used to refer to a place close to the speaker.
• de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “koko” to say “here” in Japanese.
• shinjin – 新人 (しんじん) : a noun meaning ‘newbie’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

This is a typical usage of “kitaemasu”. 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 “train” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Kitaeta: the ta form of “kitaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kitaeta”.

• kitaeta – 鍛えた (きたえた) : the ta form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘trained’, ‘drilled’, ‘forged’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kitaeta” consists of the following two parts:

• kitae – 鍛え (きたえ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kitaeta” is literally the ta form of “kitaeru” and means ‘trained’, ‘drilled’, ‘forged’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “trained” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ 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 “today” 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.

This is a typical usage of “kitaeta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kitaeru”, this form is the best option.

Kitaete: the te form of “kitaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kitaete”.

• kitaete – 鍛えて (きたえて) : the te form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kitaete” consists of the following two parts:

• kitae – 鍛え (きたえ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kitaete” is literally the te form of “kitaeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kitaete” is very useful when we want to use “kitaeru” 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 train” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• shain – 社員 (しゃいん) : a noun meaning ’employee’ 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 the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kitaete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “kitaete”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kitaeru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Kitaereba: the ba form of “kitaeru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kitaereba”.

• kitaereba – 鍛えれば (きたえれば) : the ba form of “kitaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kitaereba” consists of the following two parts:

• kitaere – 鍛えれ (きたえれ) : one conjugation of “kitaeru”. 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 “kitaereba” is literally the ba form of “kitaeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kitaereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if train” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tsukare – 疲れ (つかれ) : one conjugation of the verb, “tsukareru”, which means ‘to get tired’, ‘to feel tired’, ‘to be tired’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• masu – ます : the same as used in “kitaemasu”. In this example, this is used after “tsukare” to make its masu form, “tsukare masu”, which means ‘to feel tired’ politely in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “kitaereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “fukkin wo kitaereba”, which means ‘if you train your abs’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to train’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kitaeru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kitaeru – 鍛える (きたえる) : a verb meaning ‘to train’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese.
• kitaenai – 鍛えない (きたえない) : the nai form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘not to train’, ‘not to drill’, ‘not to forge’, or such in Japanese.
• kitaeyou – 鍛えよう (きたえよう) : the volitional form of “kitaeru”, which expresses volition to train, drill, forge, or such.
• kitaemasu – 鍛えます (きたえます) : the masu form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such politely in Japanese.
• kitaeta – 鍛えた (きたえた) : the ta form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘trained’, ‘drilled’, ‘forged’, or such in Japanese.
• kitaete – 鍛えて (きたえて) : the te form of “kitaeru”, which means ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “kitaeru” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• kitaereba – 鍛えれば (きたえれば) : the ba form of “kitaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to train’, ‘to drill’, ‘to forge’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.