吸う
すう
to breathe in, to suck
Suu (吸う) is a godan verb meaning "to breathe in, to suck". Its polite form is 吸います (suimasu), its te form is 吸って (sutte), its past form is 吸った (sutta), and its negative form is 吸わない (suwanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Suu (吸う) conjugation quick reference
吸う means "to breathe in, to suck". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Suu 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.
How to use Suu: grammar notes
•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 with Suu
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
Suu (吸う) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 吸う | suu |
| Masu Form | 吸います | suimasu |
| Te Form | 吸って | sutte |
| Past Form | 吸った | sutta |
| Negative Form | 吸わない | suwanai |
| Past Negative | 吸わなかった | suwanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 吸います | suimasu |
| Polite Past | 吸いました | suimashita |
| Polite Negative | 吸いません | suimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 吸いませんでした | suimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 吸える | sueru |
| Passive Form | 吸われる | suwareru |
| Causative Form | 吸わせる | suwaseru |
| Causative Passive | 吸わされる | suwasareru |
| Volitional Form | 吸おう | suou |
| Imperative Form | 吸え | sue |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 吸えば | sueba |
| Conditional (たら) | 吸ったら | suttara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 吸っている | sutteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 吸いたい | suitai |
| Prohibition | 吸うな | suuna |