書く
かく
to write
Kaku (書く) is a godan verb meaning "to write". Its polite form is 書きます (kakimasu), its te form is 書いて (kaite), its past form is 書いた (kaita), and its negative form is 書かない (kakanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Kaku (書く) conjugation quick reference
書く means "to write". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Kaku example sentences
ノートにえをかきます。
I will draw a picture in the notebook.
てがみをかきました。
I wrote a letter.
テストのこたえをかきません。
I won’t write the test answers.
How to use Kaku: grammar notes
•Use を to mark what you're writing—like in 手紙を書きます (I write a letter); don’t say 手紙が書きます.
•Use に to show where or to whom you're writing—like in 先生にメールを書きます (I write an email to the teacher).
•Don’t forget to change 書く to 書きます in polite situations; 書く is plain and can sound too casual.
•JLPT N5 level
Common phrases with Kaku
名前を書く（なまえを かく）
to write (one’s) name
メールを書く（メールを かく）
to write an email
日記を書く（にっきを かく）
to write a diary
Kaku (書く) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 書く | kaku |
| Masu Form | 書きます | kakimasu |
| Te Form | 書いて | kaite |
| Past Form | 書いた | kaita |
| Negative Form | 書かない | kakanai |
| Past Negative | 書かなかった | kakanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 書きます | kakimasu |
| Polite Past | 書きました | kakimashita |
| Polite Negative | 書きません | kakimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 書きませんでした | kakimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 書ける | kakeru |
| Passive Form | 書かれる | kakareru |
| Causative Form | 書かせる | kakaseru |
| Causative Passive | 書かされる | kakasareru |
| Volitional Form | 書こう | kakou |
| Imperative Form | 書け | kake |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 書けば | kakeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 書いたら | kaitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 書いている | kaiteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 書きたい | kakitai |
| Prohibition | 書くな | kakuna |