Suwaru is the Japanese verb for ‘to sit’, explained

What does “suwaru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “suwaru” to mean ‘to sit’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is often 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 to use “suwaru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “suwaru”
  • Example #1: how to say “sit” in Japanese
• Suwaranai: the nai form of “suwaru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t sit” in Japanese
• Suwarou: the volitional form of “suwaru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s sit” in Japanese
• Suwarimasu: the masu form of “suwaru”
  • Example #4: how to say “sit” politely in Japanese
• Suwatta: the ta form of “suwaru”
  • Example #5: how to say “sat” in Japanese
• Suwatte: the te form of “suwaru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please have a seat” in Japanese
• Suwareba: the ba form of “suwaru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if sit” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “suwaru”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “suwaru”.

• suwaru – 座る (すわる) : a verb meaning ‘to sit’ in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “sit” 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.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kareshi” to say with whom “kanojo” sits.

This is a typical usage of “suwaru”. When we want to mean ‘to sit’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “suwaru” 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 “suwaranai”.

Suwaranai: the nai form of “suwaru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suwaranai”.

• suwaranai – 座らない (すわらない) : the nai form of “suwaru”, which means ‘not to sit’ in Japanese.

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

• suwara – 座ら (すわら) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwaranai” is literally the nai form of “suwaru” and means ‘not to sit’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t sit” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “musume” to make its plural form, “musume tachi”, which means ‘daughters’ in Japanese.
• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.

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

Suwarou: the volitional form of “suwaru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suwarou”.

• suwarou – 座ろう (すわろう) : the volitional form of “suwaru”, which expresses volition to sit.

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

• suwaro – 座ろ (すわろ) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwarou” is literally the volitional form of “suwaru” and expresses volition to sit. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to a place close to the speaker. In the example, this works together with “ni” to say “here” in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “koko” to indicate the object to which the action described by “suwarou” is directed.

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

Suwarimasu: the masu form of “suwaru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suwarimasu”.

• suwarimasu – 座ります (すわります) : the masu form of “suwaru”, which means ‘to sit’ politely in Japanese.

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

• suwari – 座り (すわり) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwarimasu” is literally the masu form of “suwaru” and means ‘to sit’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “sit” 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.
• kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “kodomo tachi” and “mae”. The formed phrase literally means ‘front of children’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of the English preposition, “of”.
• mae – 前 (まえ) : a noun meaning ‘front’ or such in Japanese.

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

Suwatta: the ta form of “suwaru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “suwatta”.

• suwatta – 座った (すわった) : the ta form of “suwaru”, which means ‘sat’ in Japanese.

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

• suwat – 座っ (すわっ) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwatta” is literally the ta form of “suwaru” and means ‘sat’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese.
• seki – 席 (せき) : a noun meaning ‘seat’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “suwatta”. When we want to say “sat” in Japanese, this ta form is a good option.

Suwatte: the te form of “suwaru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suwatte”.

• suwatte – 座って (すわって) : the te form of “suwaru”, which means ‘to sit’ in Japanese.

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

• suwat – 座っ (すわっ) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwatte” is literally the te form of “suwaru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “suwatte” is very useful when we want to use “suwaru” 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 have a seat” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• 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 “suwatte” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

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

Suwareba: the ba form of “suwaru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “suwareba”.

• suwareba – 座れば (すわれば) : the ba form of “suwaru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to sit’ in Japanese.

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

• suware – 座れ (すわれ) : one conjugation of “suwaru”. 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 “suwareba” is literally the ba form of “suwaru”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “suwareba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to sit’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• sofā – ソファー (そふぁー) : a noun meaning ‘sofa’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• rirakkusu suru – リラックスする (りらっくすする) : a verb meaning ‘to feel relaxed’ in Japanese. This originally came from the English word.
• 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 fact in a soft way.

This is a typical usage of “suwareba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “sofā ni suwareba”, which means ‘if you sit on a sofa’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to sit’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

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

• suwaru – 座る (すわる) : a verb meaning ‘to sit’ in Japanese.
• suwaranai – 座らない (すわらない) : the nai form of “suwaru”, which means ‘not to sit’ in Japanese.
• suwarou – 座ろう (すわろう) : the volitional form of “suwaru”, which expresses volition to sit.
• suwarimasu – 座ります (すわります) : the masu form of “suwaru”, which means ‘to sit’ politely in Japanese.
• suwatta – 座った (すわった) : the ta form of “suwaru”, which means ‘sat’ in Japanese.
• suwatte – 座って (すわって) : the te form of “suwaru”, which means ‘to sit’ in Japanese.
• suwareba – 座れば (すわれば) : the ba form of “suwaru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to sit’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.