かまう
かまう
to mind, to care about, to be concerned about
Kamau (かまう) is a godan verb meaning "to mind, to care about, to be concerned about". Its polite form is かまいます (kamaimasu), its te form is かまって (kamatte), its past form is かまった (kamatta), and its negative form is かまわない (kamawanai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Kamau (かまう) conjugation quick reference
かまう means "to mind, to care about, to be concerned about". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Kamau example sentences
時間がないけど、かまいません。
I don't mind even though there's no time.
昨日、雨がふっても、かまわなかった。
I didn't care even though it rained yesterday.
このくつ、ちょっと古いけど、かまう？
These shoes are a bit old—do you mind?
How to use Kamau: grammar notes
•かまう is often used with the particle を when talking about what someone cares about — for example, 見た目をかまう means “to care about appearance.”
•In casual speech, かまわない (the negative form) is commonly used to say “I don’t mind” — just be careful not to confuse it with かまって, which means “pay attention to me” and can sound needy.
•When saying “It doesn’t matter” or “I don’t care,” you can use かまいません in polite situations — for example, 時間はかまいません means “The time doesn’t matter.”
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Kamau
気にしないで、かまいませんよ。
Don’t worry, I don’t mind.
かまわないでください。
Please leave me alone. / Please don’t bother me.
いつ来てもかまいません。
You can come anytime. / It doesn’t matter when you come.
Kamau (かまう) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | かまう | kamau |
| Masu Form | かまいます | kamaimasu |
| Te Form | かまって | kamatte |
| Past Form | かまった | kamatta |
| Negative Form | かまわない | kamawanai |
| Past Negative | かまわなかった | kamawanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | かまいます | kamaimasu |
| Polite Past | かまいました | kamaimashita |
| Polite Negative | かまいません | kamaimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | かまいませんでした | kamaimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | かまえる | kamaeru |
| Passive Form | かまわれる | kamawareru |
| Causative Form | かまわせる | kamawaseru |
| Causative Passive | かまわされる | kamawasareru |
| Volitional Form | かまおう | kamaou |
| Imperative Form | かまえ | kamae |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | かまえば | kamaeba |
| Conditional (たら) | かまったら | kamattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | かまっている | kamatteiru |
| Desire (たい) | かまいたい | kamaitai |
| Prohibition | かまうな | kamauna |