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頼む

たのむ

to request, to ask (a favor)

Godan verbJLPT N5

Example Sentences

母に水を頼みます。
I ask my mom for water.
友だちに本を頼みました。
I asked my friend for a book.
弟に手伝いを頼みません。
I don't ask my younger brother for help.

Grammar Notes & Usage Tips

Use を before 頼む to show what you're asking for — for example, プレゼントを頼みました means "I asked for a present."
Use に after the person you're asking — 先生に頼む means "ask the teacher," not "ask the teacher to you."
Don’t say 頼むです — just say 頼みます (polite) or 頼む (casual); adding です is a common mistake.
JLPT N5 level

Common Phrases & Expressions

手伝ってくれと頼む
Ask someone to help
友達にお願いを頼む
Ask a favor of a friend
よろしく頼む
I’m counting on you / Please take care of it

Complete Conjugation Table

Basic Forms

Dictionary Form
頼む
Masu Form
頼みます
Te Form
頼んで
Past Form
頼んだ
Negative Form
頼まない
Past Negative
頼まなかった

Polite Forms

Polite Present
頼みます
Polite Past
頼みました
Polite Negative
頼みません
Polite Past Negative
頼みませんでした

Advanced Forms

Potential Form
頼める
Passive Form
頼まれる
Causative Form
頼ませる
Causative Passive
頼まされる
Volitional Form
頼もう
Imperative Form
頼め

Conditional Forms

Conditional (ば)
頼めば
Conditional (たら)
頼んだら

Other Forms

Progressive Form
頼んでいる
Desire (たい)
頼みたい
Prohibition
頼むな

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