吸う
すう
to breathe in, to suck
Godan verbJLPT N5
Example Sentences
タバコを吸います。
I smoke a cigarette.
きのう、くうきを吸いました。
I breathed in air yesterday.
彼はタバコを吸いません。
He doesn't smoke.
Grammar Notes & Usage Tips
•Use 吸う with を to show what is being inhaled—like タバコを吸う means "to smoke a cigarette" (literally, "to inhale a cigarette").
•Don’t confuse 吸う with 食べる (to eat) or 飲む (to drink)—吸う is used for breathing in, sucking, or smoking, not for eating or drinking.
•You can also use 吸う for things like 空気を吸う ("to breathe in air")—just remember to pair it with を for what you're inhaling.
•JLPT N5 level
Common Phrases & Expressions
タバコを吸う
to smoke a cigarette
空気を吸う
to breathe air
息を吸う
to inhale / to take a breath
Complete Conjugation Table
Basic Forms
Dictionary Form
吸う
Masu Form
吸います
Te Form
吸って
Past Form
吸った
Negative Form
吸わない
Past Negative
吸わなかった
Polite Forms
Polite Present
吸います
Polite Past
吸いました
Polite Negative
吸いません
Polite Past Negative
吸いませんでした
Advanced Forms
Potential Form
吸える
Passive Form
吸われる
Causative Form
吸わせる
Causative Passive
吸わされる
Volitional Form
吸おう
Imperative Form
吸え
Conditional Forms
Conditional (ば)
吸えば
Conditional (たら)
吸ったら
Other Forms
Progressive Form
吸っている
Desire (たい)
吸いたい
Prohibition
吸うな