いる

iru
ja
en
Change language
Translating...
be, be present, stay, live, be doing
Find language
Bahasa Indonesia
Indonesian
日本語
Japanese
한국어
Korean
Tiếng Việt
Vietnamese
简体中文
Chinese (Simplified)
/iɾɯ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Expresses the presence or continuing state of a living being or an action.
Practice using いる in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • 今、手紙を書いています。
    I am writing a letter now.
  • 今日は先生が教室にいない。
    The teacher is not in the classroom today.
  • 彼女は三年間日本にいた。
    She was in Japan for three years.
  • ここにもう少しいてください。
    Please stay here a little longer.
  • 駅にはまだ人がいた。
    There were still people at the station.

Similar words

続く
滞在する
住む
存在する

Meanings

Be present

verb
location
neutral
To be at a place, especially of a person or animal.

Examples

  • 部屋に猫がいる。
    There is a cat in the room.
  • 母は今、台所にいます。
    My mother is in the kitchen now.
  • 駅にはまだ人がいた。
    There were still people at the station.
  • この公園には犬がたくさんいる。
    There are many dogs in this park.
  • 今日は先生が教室にいない。
    The teacher is not in the classroom today.

Similar words

存在する

Stay or live

verb
residence
neutral
To remain somewhere for a time or make that place one's home.

Examples

  • 祖父は京都にいる。
    My grandfather lives in Kyoto.
  • 週末は家にいます。
    I stay at home on weekends.
  • ここにもう少しいてください。
    Please stay here a little longer.
  • 彼女は三年間日本にいた。
    She was in Japan for three years.
  • 今夜は友達の家にいる。
    I am staying at a friend's house tonight.

Similar words

住む
滞在する

Continue or be in a state

verb
grammar
neutral
After a verb in the て form, to show an ongoing action or a resulting state.

Examples

  • 子どもが外で遊んでいる。
    The children are playing outside.
  • 今、手紙を書いています。
    I am writing a letter now.
  • 窓が開いている。
    The window is open.
  • 彼は赤い帽子をかぶっている。
    He is wearing a red hat.
  • まだ雨が降っている。
    It is still raining.

Similar words

続く

Etymology

A long-established native Japanese verb also written 居る, though the hiragana spelling is usual today.

FAQ

When do I use いる rather than ある?

Use いる for people and animals in ordinary location statements; use ある for things.

How does いる work after a verb?

A verb in the て form followed by いる can describe an action in progress or a continuing result.

What is the polite form of いる?

The polite form is います.

What is the negative form of いる?

The ordinary negative is いない.

Is いる the same as 要る?

No. 要る means “to need” and is a different word.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...