折る
おる
to snap, to break; to bend
Oru (折る) is a godan verb meaning "to snap, to break". Its polite form is 折ります (orimasu), its te form is 折って (otte), its past form is 折った (otta), and its negative form is 折らない (oranai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Oru (折る) conjugation quick reference
折る means "to snap, to break". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Oru example sentences
木のえだを折ります。
I will break a tree branch.
子どもがえんぴつを折った。
The child broke the pencil.
わたしははしを折りません。
I don’t break chopsticks.
How to use Oru: grammar notes
•Use を with 折る to mark what is being broken or bent — for example, 「えんぴつを折った」 means "I broke the pencil."
•Remember that 折る is something you do to something else, so don't use it for things that break on their own — use 折れる for that.
•A common mistake is forgetting that 折る sounds a bit forceful, so avoid using it for unintentional or gentle actions like "folding clothes" — use 畳む (たたむ) instead.
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Oru
木の枝を折る（きを えだを おる）
to break a tree branch
心を折る（こころを おる）
to break someone’s spirit / to discourage
骨を折る（ほねを おる）
to break a bone; also used idiomatically as "to make a great effort"
Oru (折る) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 折る | oru |
| Masu Form | 折ります | orimasu |
| Te Form | 折って | otte |
| Past Form | 折った | otta |
| Negative Form | 折らない | oranai |
| Past Negative | 折らなかった | oranakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 折ります | orimasu |
| Polite Past | 折りました | orimashita |
| Polite Negative | 折りません | orimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 折りませんでした | orimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 折れる | oreru |
| Passive Form | 折られる | orareru |
| Causative Form | 折らせる | oraseru |
| Causative Passive | 折らされる | orasareru |
| Volitional Form | 折ろう | orou |
| Imperative Form | 折れ | ore |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 折れば | oreba |
| Conditional (たら) | 折ったら | ottara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 折っている | otteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 折りたい | oritai |
| Prohibition | 折るな | oruna |