役に立つ
やくにたつ
to be helpful, to be useful
Yakunitatsu (役に立つ) is a godan verb meaning "to be helpful, to be useful". Its polite form is 役に立ちます (yakunitachimasu), its te form is 役に立って (yakunitatte), its past form is 役に立った (yakunitatta), and its negative form is 役に立たない (yakunitatanai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Yakunitatsu (役に立つ) conjugation quick reference
役に立つ means "to be helpful, to be useful". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Yakunitatsu example sentences
この辞書は日本語の勉強にとても役に立つ。
This dictionary is very helpful for studying Japanese.
彼のアドバイスは役に立たなかった。
His advice wasn't helpful.
私の経験があなたに役に立つと嬉しいです。
I would be glad if my experience could be helpful to you.
How to use Yakunitatsu: grammar notes
•Use 役に立つ after a noun + に to say something is helpful or useful — for example, この本は勉強に役に立ちます (This book is helpful for studying).
•Don’t use を with 役に立つ — say 〇〇に役に立つ, not 〇〇を役に立つ.
•To say something wasn’t useful, just change the verb to past negative: 役に立たなかった (was not helpful).
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Yakunitatsu
〜の役に立つ
to be useful for ~
役に立たない
not useful / useless
困ったときに役に立つ
helpful in times of trouble
Yakunitatsu (役に立つ) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 役に立つ | yakunitatsu |
| Masu Form | 役に立ちます | yakunitachimasu |
| Te Form | 役に立って | yakunitatte |
| Past Form | 役に立った | yakunitatta |
| Negative Form | 役に立たない | yakunitatanai |
| Past Negative | 役に立たなかった | yakunitatanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 役に立ちます | yakunitachimasu |
| Polite Past | 役に立ちました | yakunitachimashita |
| Polite Negative | 役に立ちません | yakunitachimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 役に立ちませんでした | yakunitachimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 役に立てる | yakunitateru |
| Passive Form | 役に立たれる | yakunitatareru |
| Causative Form | 役に立たせる | yakunitataseru |
| Causative Passive | 役に立たされる | yakunitatasareru |
| Volitional Form | 役に立とう | yakunitatou |
| Imperative Form | 役に立て | yakunitate |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 役に立てば | yakunitateba |
| Conditional (たら) | 役に立ったら | yakunitattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 役に立っている | yakunitatteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 役に立ちたい | yakunitachitai |
| Prohibition | 役に立つな | yakunitatsuna |