Japanese

える

おしえる
Meaning: to teach; to tell; to inform
Part of Speech: Verb

Listen to pronunciation

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 教える 教えない
Polite 教えます 教えません
Past 教えた 教えなかった
Polite + Past 教えました 教えませんでした
Te-form 教えて 教えなくて
Potential 教えられる 教えられない
Passive 教えられる 教えられない
Causative 教えさせる 教えさせない
Imperative 教えろ 教えるな

Handwriting

教
え
る

Example sentences

Could you tell me the way?
あなたの名前を教えてください
Please tell me your name.
その男性は親切に道を教えてくれた。
That man kindly showed me the way.
理由をひとつ教えてください。
Please tell me one reason.
そのやり方を教えてください。
Please teach me how to do it.
親切なお兄さんが道を教えてくれた。
The kind young man helped me find my way.
部活の後輩にテニスを教えた。
I taught tennis to my junior in the club.
フフフ、君には教えないよ。
Hehehe, I won't tell you.
先生は初心者の私の手を取って、丁寧に教えてくれた。
The teacher took my beginner hand and taught me carefully.
どうしたらいいか教えてください。
Please tell me what I should do.

Usage Notes

Used for teaching knowledge or skills, as well as informing someone of facts or directions. More formal than 言う for telling information. Takes を for direct object and に for the recipient.

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