Tsukuru is the Japanese verb for ‘to make’ or ‘to create’, explained

What does “tsukuru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tsukuru” to mean ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is often used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb 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 “tsukuru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “tsukuru”
  • Example #1: how to say “make” in Japanese
• Tsukuranai: the nai form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t make” in Japanese
• Tsukurou: the volitional form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s make” in Japanese
• Tsukurimasu: the masu form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #4: how to say “make” politely in Japanese
• Tsukutta: the ta form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #5: how to say “made” in Japanese
• Tsukutte: the te form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #6: how to say “make and” in Japanese
• Tsukureba: the ba form of “tsukuru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if make” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “tsukuru”

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

• tsukuru – 作る/造る (つくる) : a verb meaning ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.

This verb has two different kanji expressions. The first one is more commonly used; the second one is used purposely in specific situations. So, basically, we can focus on the first one.

The definition and meanings 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 “make” 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. 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.
• eiga – 映画 (えいが) : a noun meaning ‘movie’ or ‘film’ 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 “eiga” to make the object in the sentence.

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

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tsukuru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blot post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “tsukuranai”.

Tsukuranai: the nai form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukuranai”.

• tsukuranai – 作らない/造らない (つくらない) : the nai form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘not to make’ or ‘not to create’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukura – 作ら/造ら (つくら) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukuranai” is literally the nai form of “tsukuru” and means ‘not to make’ or ‘not to create’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t make” 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.
• ii – 良い (いい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘good’ or such in Japanese.

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

Tsukurou: the volitional form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukurou”.

• tsukurou – 作ろう/造ろう (つくろう) : the volitional form of “tsukuru”, which expresses volition to make or create.

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

• tsukuro – 作ろ/造ろ (つくろ) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukurou” is literally the volitional form of “tsukuru” and expresses volition to make or create. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• omoide – 思い出 (おもいで) : a noun meaning ‘memory’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

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

Tsukurimasu: the masu form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukurimasu”.

• tsukurimasu – 作ります/造ります (つくります) : the masu form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ politely in Japanese.

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

• tsukuri – 作り/造り (つくり) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukurimasu” is literally the masu form of “tsukuru” and means ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tsukurimasu”. 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 “make” or “create” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Tsukutta: the ta form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukutta”.

• tsukutta – 作った/造った (つくった) : the ta form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘made’ or ‘created’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukut – 作っ/造っ (つくっ) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukutta” is literally the ta form of “tsukuru” and means ‘made’ or ‘created’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kami – 神 (かみ) : a noun meaning ‘God’ or such 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 “kami” to make the subject in the sentence.
• ningen – 人間 (にんげん) : a noun meaning ‘man’ or such in Japanese.

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

Tsukutte: the te form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukutte”.

• tsukutte – 作って/造って (つくって) : the te form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukut – 作っ/造っ (つくっ) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukutte” is literally the te form of “tsukuru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tsukutte” is very useful when we want to use “tsukuru” 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 “make and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• mochi – 餅 (もち) : a noun meaning ‘mochi’ or ‘rice cake’ in Japanese.
• taberu – 食べる (たべる) : a verb meaning ‘to eat’ in Japanese.

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

Tsukureba: the ba form of “tsukuru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tsukureba”.

• tsukureba – 作れば/造れば (つくれば) : the ba form of “tsukuru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.

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

• tsukure – 作れ/造れ (つくれ) : one conjugation of “tsukuru”. 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 “tsukureba” is literally the ba form of “tsukuru”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsukureba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• anata – あなた : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• yuumei – 有名 (ゆうめい) : a noun meaning ‘renown’ or ‘being famous’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say what situation or state someone is in after a change or action. In the example, this is used after “yuumei” to indicate the situation in which “anata” will be.
• naru – なる : a verb meaning ‘to become’, ‘to get’, ‘to turn’, or such in Japanese.

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

Summary

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

• tsukuru – 作る/造る (つくる) : a verb meaning ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.
• tsukuranai – 作らない/造らない (つくらない) : the nai form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘not to make’ or ‘not to create’ in Japanese.
• tsukurou – 作ろう/造ろう (つくろう) : the volitional form of “tsukuru”, which expresses volition to make or create.
• tsukurimasu – 作ります/造ります (つくります) : the masu form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ politely in Japanese.
• tsukutta – 作った/造った (つくった) : the ta form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘made’ or ‘created’ in Japanese.
• tsukutte – 作って/造って (つくって) : the te form of “tsukuru”, which means ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.
• tsukureba – 作れば/造れば (つくれば) : the ba form of “tsukuru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to make’ or ‘to create’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.