Tsukaeru is the Japanese potential verb for ‘can use’, explained

What does “tsukaeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tsukaeru” often to mean ‘can use’ 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 “tsukaeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “can use” in Japanese
• Tsukaenai: the nai form of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “cannot use” in Japanese
• Tsukaemasu: the masu form of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “can use” politely in Japanese
• Tsukaeta: the ta form of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “could use” in Japanese
• Tsukaete: the te form of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “can use” in Japanese
• Tsukaereba: the ba form of “tsukaeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “if can use” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “tsukaeru”

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

• tsukaeru – 使える (つかえる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ 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 use” 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.
• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “heya” to say “this room” in Japanese.
• heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ 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 “kono heya” to make the object in the sentence.

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

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tsukaeru” 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 “tsukaenai”.

Tsukaenai: the nai form of “tsukaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukaenai”.

• tsukaenai – 使えない (つかえない) : the nai form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘cannot use’, ‘not to be able to use’, or such in Japanese.

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

• tsukae – 使え (つかえ) : one conjugation of “tsukaeru”. 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 “tsukaenai” is literally the nai form of “tsukaeru” and means ‘cannot use’, ‘not to be able to use’, 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 use” 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.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• kuruma – 車 (くるま) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

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

Tsukaemasu: the masu form of “tsukaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukaemasu”.

• tsukaemasu – 使えます (つかえます) : the masu form of “tsukaeru”, which politely means ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukae – 使え (つかえ) : one conjugation of “tsukaeru”. 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 “tsukaemasu” is literally the masu form of “tsukaeru” and means ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• genkin – 現金 (げんきん) : a noun meaning ‘cash’ 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 “genkin” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “tsukaemasu”. 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 use” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Tsukaeta: the ta form of “tsukaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukaeta”.

• tsukaeta – 使えた (つかえた) : the ta form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘could use’, ‘was able to use’, ‘were able to use’, or such in Japanese.

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

• tsukae – 使え (つかえ) : one conjugation of “tsukaeru”. 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 “tsukaeta” is literally the ta form of “tsukaeru” and means ‘could use’, ‘was able to use’, ‘were able to use’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “could use” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. In this example, this works together with “wa” to become the adverb phrase in the sentence.
• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “heya” to say “that room” in Japanese.

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

Tsukaete: the te form of “tsukaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukaete”.

• tsukaete – 使えて (つかえて) : the te form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukae – 使え (つかえ) : one conjugation of “tsukaeru”. 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 “tsukaete” is literally the te form of “tsukaeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tsukaete” is very useful when we want to use “tsukaeru” 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 use” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• asoberu – 遊べる (あそべる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can play’ or ‘to be able to play’ in Japanese.

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

Tsukaereba: the ba form of “tsukaeru”

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

• tsukaereba – 使えれば (つかえれば) : the ba form of “tsukaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukaere – 使えれ (つかえれ) : one conjugation of “tsukaeru”. 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 “tsukaereba” is literally the ba form of “tsukaeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsukaereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words use in the example sentence.

• kotoba – 言葉 (ことば) : a noun meaning ‘word’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• kaiwa – 会話 (かいわ) : a noun meaning ‘conversation’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• tanoshimeru – 楽しめる (たのしめる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can enjoy’ or ‘to be able to enjoy’ in Japanese.

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

Summary

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

• tsukaeru – 使える (つかえる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.
• tsukaenai – 使えない (つかえない) : the nai form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘cannot use’, ‘not to be able to use’, or such in Japanese.
• tsukaemasu – 使えます (つかえます) : the masu form of “tsukaeru”, which politely means ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.
• tsukaeta – 使えた (つかえた) : the ta form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘could use’, ‘was able to use’, ‘were able to use’, or such in Japanese.
• tsukaete – 使えて (つかえて) : the te form of “tsukaeru”, which means ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.
• tsukaereba – 使えれば (つかえれば) : the ba form of “tsukaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can use’ or ‘to be able to use’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.