弾く
ひく
to play (a string instrument or piano)
Hiku (弾く) is a godan verb meaning "to play (a string instrument or piano)". Its polite form is 弾きます (hikimasu), its te form is 弾いて (hiite), its past form is 弾いた (hiita), and its negative form is 弾かない (hikanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Hiku (弾く) conjugation quick reference
弾く means "to play (a string instrument or piano)". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Hiku example sentences
ピアノを弾きます。
I play the piano.
きのう、ギターを弾きました。
I played the guitar yesterday.
かれはバイオリンを弾きません。
He doesn't play the violin.
How to use Hiku: grammar notes
•Use the particle を after the instrument: ギターを弾く means “to play the guitar.”
•弾く is mostly used for instruments you pluck or strike, like the piano, guitar, or violin—not for blowing or hitting instruments.
•Don’t confuse 弾く with 遊ぶ (to play); 弾く is only for playing string instruments or the piano, not for playing games or hanging out.
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Hiku
ピアノを弾く
to play the piano
ギターを弾く
to play the guitar
曲を弾く
to play a (musical) piece/song
Hiku (弾く) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 弾く | hiku |
| Masu Form | 弾きます | hikimasu |
| Te Form | 弾いて | hiite |
| Past Form | 弾いた | hiita |
| Negative Form | 弾かない | hikanai |
| Past Negative | 弾かなかった | hikanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 弾きます | hikimasu |
| Polite Past | 弾きました | hikimashita |
| Polite Negative | 弾きません | hikimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 弾きませんでした | hikimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 弾ける | hikeru |
| Passive Form | 弾かれる | hikareru |
| Causative Form | 弾かせる | hikaseru |
| Causative Passive | 弾かされる | hikasareru |
| Volitional Form | 弾こう | hikou |
| Imperative Form | 弾け | hike |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 弾けば | hikeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 弾いたら | hiitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 弾いている | hiiteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 弾きたい | hikitai |
| Prohibition | 弾くな | hikuna |