What does “tsukureru” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “tsukureru” often to mean ‘can make’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this potential 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 use “tsukureru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “tsukureru”
- Tsukurenai: the nai form of “tsukureru”
- Tsukuremasu: the masu form of “tsukureru”
- Tsukureta: the ta form of “tsukureru”
- Tsukurete: the te form of “tsukureru”
- Tsukurereba: the ba form of “tsukureru”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “tsukureru”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “tsukureru”.
- tsukureru – 作れる (つくれる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such 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 make” in Japanese
boku tachi wa kuruma wo tsukureru – 僕達は車を作れる (ぼくたちはくるまをつくれる)
We can make cars.
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. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- kuruma – 車 (くるま) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kuruma” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “tsukureru”. It often works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object like in this example. When we want to mean ‘can make’ in Japanese, anyway, this potential verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tsukureru” 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 “tsukurenai”.
Tsukurenai: the nai form of “tsukureru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukurenai”.
- tsukurenai – 作れない (つくれない) : the nai form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘cannot make’, ‘cannot create’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsukurenai” consists of the following two parts:
- tsukure – 作れ (つくれ) : one conjugation of “tsukureru”. 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 “tsukurenai” is literally the nai form of “tsukureru” and means ‘cannot make’, ‘cannot create’, 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 make” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa subarashii ie wo tsukurenai – 私達は素晴らしい家を作れない (わたしたちはすばらしいいえをつくれない)
We cannot make great houses.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- subarashii – 素晴らしい (すばらしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘great’, ‘wonderful’, or such in Japanese.
- ie – 家 (いえ) : a noun meaning ‘house’ or ‘home’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tsukurenai”. When we want to mean ‘cannot make’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Tsukuremasu: the masu form of “tsukureru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukuremasu”.
- tsukuremasu – 作れます (つくれます) : the masu form of “tsukureru”, which politely means ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsukuremasu” consists of the following two parts:
- tsukure – 作れ (つくれ) : one conjugation of “tsukureru”. 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 “tsukuremasu” is literally the masu form of “tsukureru” and politely means ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “can make” politely in Japanese
kanojo wa koko de ii tomodachi wo tsukuremasu – 彼女はここで良い友達を作れます (かのじょはここでいいともだちをつくれます)
She can make good friends here.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ 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 where she can make good friends.
- ii – 良い (いい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘good’ in Japanese.
- tomodachi – 友達 (ともだち) : a noun meaning ‘friend’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tsukuremasu”. 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 make” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Tsukureta: the ta form of “tsukureru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukureta”.
- tsukureta – 作れた (つくれた) : the ta form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘could make’, ‘could create’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsukureta” consists of the following two parts:
- tsukure – 作れ (つくれ) : one conjugation of “tsukureru”. 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 “tsukureta” is literally the ta form of “tsukureru” and means ‘could make’, ‘could create’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “could make” in Japanese
kare wa ii tomodachi wo tsukureta – 彼は良い友達を作れた (かれはいいともだちをつくれた)
He could make good friends.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tsukureta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “tsukureru”, this ta form is the best option.
Tsukurete: the te form of “tsukureru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukurete”.
- tsukurete – 作れて (つくれて) : the te form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsukurete” consists of the following two parts:
- tsukure – 作れ (つくれ) : one conjugation of “tsukureru”. 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 “tsukurete” is literally the te form of “tsukureru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tsukurete” is very useful when we want to use “tsukureru” 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 make” in Japanese
anata mo koko de tomodachi wo tsukurete tanoshimeru – あなたもここで友達を作れて楽しめる (あなたもここでともだちをつくれてたのしめる)
You can make friends here and enjoy with them, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- anata – あなた : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘as well’, or ‘also’ in Japanese.
- tanoshimeru – 楽しめる (たのしめる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can enjoy’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tsukurete”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “tanoshimeru”. When we want to use “tsukureru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Tsukurereba: the ba form of “tsukureru”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “tsukurereba”.
- tsukurereba – 作れれば (つくれれば) : the ba form of “tsukureru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsukurereba” consists of the following two parts:
- tsukurere – 作れれ (つくれれ) : one conjugation of “tsukureru”. 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 “tsukurereba” is literally the ba form of “tsukureru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsukurereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “if can make” in Japanese
tomodachi wo tsukurereba, gakkou seikatsu wo tanoshimeru – 友達を作れれば、学校生活を楽しめる (ともだちをつくれれば、がっこうせいかつをたのしめる)
If you can make friends, you can enjoy your school life.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- seikatsu – 生活 (せいかつ) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tsukurereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “tomodachi wo tsukurereba”, which means ‘if you can make friends’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘can make’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained “tsukureru” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- tsukureru – 作れる (つくれる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
- tsukurenai – 作れない (つくれない) : the nai form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘cannot make’, ‘cannot create’, or such in Japanese.
- tsukuremasu – 作れます (つくれます) : the masu form of “tsukureru”, which politely means ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
- tsukureta – 作れた (つくれた) : the ta form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘could make’, ‘could create’, or such in Japanese.
- tsukurete – 作れて (つくれて) : the te form of “tsukureru”, which means ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
- tsukurereba – 作れれば (つくれれば) : the ba form of “tsukureru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘can make’, ‘can create’, or such in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
