頼む
たのむ
to request, to ask (a favor)
Tanomu (頼む) is a godan verb meaning "to request, to ask (a favor)". Its polite form is 頼みます (tanomimasu), its te form is 頼んで (tanonde), its past form is 頼んだ (tanonda), and its negative form is 頼まない (tanomanai).
Godan verbJLPT N5
Tanomu (頼む) conjugation quick reference
頼む means "to request, to ask (a favor)". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Tanomu 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.
How to use Tanomu: grammar notes
•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 with Tanomu
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
Tanomu (頼む) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 頼む | tanomu |
| Masu Form | 頼みます | tanomimasu |
| Te Form | 頼んで | tanonde |
| Past Form | 頼んだ | tanonda |
| Negative Form | 頼まない | tanomanai |
| Past Negative | 頼まなかった | tanomanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 頼みます | tanomimasu |
| Polite Past | 頼みました | tanomimashita |
| Polite Negative | 頼みません | tanomimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 頼みませんでした | tanomimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 頼める | tanomeru |
| Passive Form | 頼まれる | tanomareru |
| Causative Form | 頼ませる | tanomaseru |
| Causative Passive | 頼まされる | tanomasareru |
| Volitional Form | 頼もう | tanomou |
| Imperative Form | 頼め | tanome |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 頼めば | tanomeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 頼んだら | tanondara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 頼んでいる | tanondeiru |
| Desire (たい) | 頼みたい | tanomitai |
| Prohibition | 頼むな | tanomuna |