Taberu is the Japanese verb for ‘to eat’, explained

What does “taberu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “taberu” to mean ‘to eat’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb well as it is often used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “taberu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “taberu”
  • Example #1: how to say “eat” in Japanese
• Tabenai : the nai form of “taberu”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t eat” in Japanese
• Tabeyou: the volitional form of “taberu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s eat” in Japanese
• Tabemasu : the masu form of “taberu”
  • Example #4: how to say “eat” politely in Japanese
• Tabeta: the ta form of “taberu”
  • Example #5: how to say “ate” in Japanese
• Tabete: the te form of “taberu”
  • Example #6: how to say “eat and” in Japanese
• Tabereba: the ba form of “taberu”
  • Example #7: how to say “if eat” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “taberu”

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

• taberu – 食べる (たべる) : a verb meaning ‘to eat’ 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 “eat” 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.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• tamago – 卵 (たまご) : a noun meaning ‘egg’ 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 “tamago” to make the object in the sentence.

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

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “taberu”. The first one is “tabenai”.

Tabenai : the nai form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabenai”.

• tabenai – 食べない (たべない) : the nai form of “taberu”, which means ‘not to eat’ in Japanese.

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

• tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabenai” is literally the nai form of “taberu” and means ‘not to eat’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• amai – 甘い (あまい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sweet’ in Japanese.
• okashi – お菓子 (おかし) : a noun meaning ‘snacks’ or ‘sweets’ in Japanese. This can also work as singular.

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

Tabeyou: the volitional form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabeyou”.

• tabeyou – 食べよう (たべよう) : the volitional form of “taberu”, which expresses volition to eat.

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

• tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabeyou” is literally the volitional form of “taberu” and expresses volition to eat. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

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

Tabemasu : the masu form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabemasu”.

• tabemasu – 食べます (たべます) : the masu form of “taberu”, which means ‘to eat’ politely in Japanese.

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

• tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabemasu” is literally the masu form of “taberu” and means ‘to eat’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tabemasu”. 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 “eat” politely in Japanese, this form is very useful.

Tabeta: the ta form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabeta”.

• tabeta – 食べた (たべた) : the ta form of “taberu”, which means ‘ate’ in Japanese.

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

• tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabeta” is literally the ta form of “taberu” and means ‘ate’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• 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 to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
• ichigo – 苺 (いちご) : a noun meaning ‘strawberry’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “tabeta”. When we want to say “ate” in Japanese, this ta form is very useful.

Tabete: the te form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabete”.

• tabete – 食べて (たべて) : the te form of “taberu”, which means ‘to eat’ in Japanese.

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

• tabe – 食べ (たべ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabete” is literally the te form of “taberu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tabete” is very useful when we want to use “taberu” 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 “eat and” 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.
• yūgohan – 夕ご飯 (ゆうごはん) : a noun meaning ‘dinner’ in Japanese.
• neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to go to bed’ or ‘to sleep’ in Japanese.

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

Tabereba: the ba form of “taberu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tabereba”.

• tabereba – 食べれば (たべれば) : the ba form of “taberu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to eat’ in Japanese.

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

• tabere – 食べれ (たべれ) : one conjugation of “taberu”. 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 “tabereba” is literally the ba form of “taberu”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tabereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to eat’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• futoru – 太る (ふとる) : a verb meaning ‘to get fat’ in Japanese

This is a typical usage of “tabereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “okashi wo tabereba”, which means ‘if you eat sweets’. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to eat’, this ba form is very useful.

Summary

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

• taberu – 食べる (たべる) : a verb meaning ‘to eat’ in Japanese.
• tabenai – 食べない (たべない) : the nai form of “taberu”, which means ‘not to eat’ in Japanese.
• tabeyou – 食べよう (たべよう) : the volitional form of “taberu”, which expresses volition to eat. This is often translated into English as “let’s eat”.
• tabemasu – 食べます (たべます) : the masu form of “taberu”, which means ‘to eat’ politely in Japanese.
• tabeta – 食べた (たべた) : the ta form of “taberu”, which means ‘ate’ in Japanese. This is the past tense form.
• tabete – 食べて (たべて) : the te form of “taberu”, which means ‘to eat’ in Japanese. When we want to use “taberu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb, this te form is useful.
• tabereba – 食べれば (たべれば) : the ba form of “taberu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to eat’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.