Translation of Japanese word "いる" to English
いる
いる
[iru]
IPA: /iru/
Meaning
VerbAs an auxiliary verb: Used with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.
How to use
いる (iru) — 'to be / exist' (for animate beings: people, animals). Group 2 verb. います (polite). Contrast with ある (aru) for inanimate objects. どこにいますか？ — Where are you?
🇬🇧 English
to be (animate)
Pronunciation Guide
Japanese Kanji: いる
Phonetic Reading (Hiragana): いる
Romaji Transcription: iru
Example Sentences
私の家には犬がいます。
わたしのいえにはいぬがいます。
There is a dog in my house.
彼は東京にいます。
かれはとうきょうにいます。
He is in Tokyo.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- 〜にいます— is at ~ / am at ~
- います / いません— there is (animate) / there is not
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #32 in Japanese
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Japanese word "いる" mean?▼
The Japanese word "いる" means "to be (animate)" in English.
How do you pronounce the Japanese word "いる"?▼
The word "いる" is read as "いる" (iru). You can hear the correct audio pronunciation by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see a usage guide or example with "いる"?▼
Yes, here is a practical context/example: "A verb that expresses the existence of animals or people.".
More Core Verbs words
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