洗う
あらう
to wash
Arau (洗う) is a godan verb meaning "to wash". Its polite form is 洗います (araimasu), its te form is 洗って (aratte), its past form is 洗った (aratta), and its negative form is 洗わない (arawanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Arau (洗う) conjugation quick reference
洗う means "to wash". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Arau example sentences
手を洗います。
I wash my hands.
服を洗いました。
I washed the clothes.
皿を洗いません。
I don’t wash the dishes.
How to use Arau: grammar notes
•Use を with 洗う to mark the thing you are washing — for example, 手を洗います means "I wash my hands."
•Don't use に or で after the object — saying 手に洗います is incorrect; stick with 手を洗います.
•To say you wash something with someone, use と — like 友だちと車を洗いました ("I washed the car with my friend").
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Arau
手を洗う（てをあらう）
to wash one's hands
顔を洗う（かおをあらう）
to wash one's face
食器を洗う（しょっきをあらう）
to wash the dishes
Arau (洗う) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 洗う | arau |
| Masu Form | 洗います | araimasu |
| Te Form | 洗って | aratte |
| Past Form | 洗った | aratta |
| Negative Form | 洗わない | arawanai |
| Past Negative | 洗わなかった | arawanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 洗います | araimasu |
| Polite Past | 洗いました | araimashita |
| Polite Negative | 洗いません | araimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 洗いませんでした | araimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 洗える | araeru |
| Passive Form | 洗われる | arawareru |
| Causative Form | 洗わせる | arawaseru |
| Causative Passive | 洗わされる | arawasareru |
| Volitional Form | 洗おう | araou |
| Imperative Form | 洗え | arae |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 洗えば | araeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 洗ったら | arattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 洗っている | aratteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 洗いたい | araitai |
| Prohibition | 洗うな | arauna |