Tanoshimeru is the Japanese potential verb for ‘can enjoy’

What does “tanoshimeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tanoshimeru” often to mean ‘can enjoy’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this potential 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 “tanoshimeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “can enjoy” in Japanese
• Tanoshimenai: the nai form of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “cannot enjoy” in Japanese
• Tanoshimemasu: the masu form of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “can enjoy” politely in Japanese
• Tanoshimeta: the ta form of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “could enjoy” in Japanese
• Tanoshimete: the te form of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “can enjoy” in Japanese
• Tanoshimereba: the ba form of “tanoshimeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “if can enjoy” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “tanoshimeru”

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

• tanoshimeru – 楽しめる (たのしめる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

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

Example #1: how to say “can enjoy” 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.
• gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• seikatsu – 生活 (せいかつ) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “gakkou seikatsu” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “tanoshimeru”. It often works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object like in this example. When we want to mean ‘can enjoy’ in Japanese, anyway, this potential verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tanoshimeru” 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 “tanoshimenai”.

Tanoshimenai: the nai form of “tanoshimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tanoshimenai”.

• tanoshimenai – 楽しめない (たのしめない) : the nai form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘cannot enjoy’, ‘not to be able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese.

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

• tanoshime – 楽しめ (たのしめ) : one conjugation of “tanoshimeru”. 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 “tanoshimenai” is literally the nai form of “tanoshimeru” and means ‘cannot enjoy’, ‘not to be able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “cannot enjoy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• shigoto – 仕事 (しごと) : a noun meaning ‘work’ in Japanese.

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

Tanoshimemasu: the masu form of “tanoshimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tanoshimemasu”.

• tanoshimemasu – 楽しめます (たのしめます) : the masu form of “tanoshimeru”, which politely means ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

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

• tanoshime – 楽しめ (たのしめ) : one conjugation of “tanoshimeru”. 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 “tanoshimemasu” is literally the masu form of “tanoshimeru” and means ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “can enjoy” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• 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 where the listeners can enjoy music.
• ongaku – 音楽 (おんがく) : a noun meaning ‘music’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tanoshimemasu”. 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 “can enjoy” politely in Japanese, this masu form is a good option.

Tanoshimeta: the ta form of “tanoshimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tanoshimeta”.

• tanoshimeta – 楽しめた (たのしめた) : the ta form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘could enjoy’, ‘was able to enjoy’, ‘were able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese.

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

• tanoshime – 楽しめ (たのしめ) : one conjugation of “tanoshimeru”. 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 “tanoshimeta” is literally the ta form of “tanoshimeru” and means ‘could enjoy’, ‘was able to enjoy’, ‘were able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “could enjoy” 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.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its plural form, “kanojo tachi”, which means ‘they’ in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “kanojo tachi” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

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

Tanoshimete: the te form of “tanoshimeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tanoshimete”.

• tanoshimete – 楽しめて (たのしめて) : the te form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

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

• tanoshime – 楽しめ (たのしめ) : one conjugation of “tanoshimeru”. 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 “tanoshimete” is literally the te form of “tanoshimeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tanoshimete” is very useful when we want to use “tanoshimeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb with a smooth connection. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “can enjoy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “kaisha” to say “this company” in Japanese.
• kaisha – 会社 (かいしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘company’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• kasegeru – 稼げる (かせげる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can make money’, ‘can earn’, or such in Japanese.

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

Tanoshimereba: the ba form of “tanoshimeru”

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

• tanoshimereba – 楽しめれば (たのしめれば) : the ba form of “tanoshimeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

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

• tanoshimere – 楽しめれ (たのしめれ) : one conjugation of “tanoshimeru”. 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 “tanoshimereba” is literally the ba form of “tanoshimeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tanoshimereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “if can enjoy” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• jinsei – 人生 (じんせい) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese.

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

Summary

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

• tanoshimeru – 楽しめる (たのしめる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.
• tanoshimenai – 楽しめない (たのしめない) : the nai form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘cannot enjoy’, ‘not to be able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese.
• tanoshimemasu – 楽しめます (たのしめます) : the masu form of “tanoshimeru”, which politely means ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.
• tanoshimeta – 楽しめた (たのしめた) : the ta form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘could enjoy’, ‘was able to enjoy’, ‘were able to enjoy’, or such in Japanese.
• tanoshimete – 楽しめて (たのしめて) : the te form of “tanoshimeru”, which means ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.
• tanoshimereba – 楽しめれば (たのしめれば) : the ba form of “tanoshimeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.