Japanese

できる

できる
Meaning: can do, be able to, be possible; be made, be completed
Part of Speech: Verb

Listen to pronunciation

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present できる できない
Polite できます できません
Past できた できなかった
Polite + Past できました できませんでした
Te-form できて できなくて
Potential できられる できられない
Passive できられる できられない
Causative できさせる できさせない
Imperative できろ できるな

Handwriting

で
き
る

Example sentences

I'm looking for someone who can speak Japanese.
環境を守るために、できることをすべきだ。
To protect the environment, we should do what we can.
どんなに謝られても、私は彼の嘘を許すことができなかった。
No matter how much he apologized, I could not forgive his lie.
急ぎの用ができたので、お先に失礼します。
Something urgent came up, so I will be leaving now.
この分なら、時間通りに到着できそうです。
At this rate, it seems we can arrive on time.
ほう、よく出来ていますね。
Oh, it is very well done.
通りの向こうに新しいカフェができました。
A new cafe has opened across the street.
多くの経験をえることができた
I was able to gain a lot of experience.
そんなこと、できるかよ!
As if I could do such a thing!
彼はすべての責任をおう覚悟ができている。
He is prepared to bear all responsibility.

Usage Notes

Expresses ability or possibility. For skills/languages, use が particle. Can also mean 'to be made/formed/completed'. The potential form of する.

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