生きる
いきる
to live
Ikiru (生きる) is an ichidan verb meaning "to live". Its polite form is 生きます (ikimasu), its te form is 生きて (ikite), its past form is 生きた (ikita), and its negative form is 生きない (ikinai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N4
Ikiru (生きる) conjugation quick reference
生きる means "to live". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Ikiru example sentences
母は元気に生きています。
My mother is living well.
昔は田舎で生きていました。
I used to live in the countryside.
彼はもう生きていません。
He is no longer alive.
How to use Ikiru: grammar notes
•Use 生きる with the subject marked by が (e.g. 彼が生きている = He is alive) to show who is living.
•When talking about living in a place, use に (e.g. 日本に生きている is incorrect — say 日本に住んでいる instead; use 生きている for being alive, not for residing).
•In casual speech, use the ている form (生きている) to say someone is currently alive — don’t forget the て form!
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Ikiru
生きているだけでいい
Just being alive is enough
生きがいを見つける
To find a purpose in life
必死に生きる
To live desperately / To live with all one’s might
Ikiru (生きる) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 生きる | ikiru |
| Masu Form | 生きます | ikimasu |
| Te Form | 生きて | ikite |
| Past Form | 生きた | ikita |
| Negative Form | 生きない | ikinai |
| Past Negative | 生きなかった | ikinakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 生きます | ikimasu |
| Polite Past | 生きました | ikimashita |
| Polite Negative | 生きません | ikimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 生きませんでした | ikimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 生きられる | ikirareru |
| Passive Form | 生きられる | ikirareru |
| Causative Form | 生きさせる | ikisaseru |
| Causative Passive | 生きさせられる | ikisaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 生きよう | ikiyou |
| Imperative Form | 生きろ | ikiro |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 生きれば | ikireba |
| Conditional (たら) | 生きたら | ikitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 生きている | ikiteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 生きたい | ikitai |
| Prohibition | 生きるな | ikiruna |