食べます
tabemasu
The English phrase "I eat" is translated into Japanese as 食べます (tabemasu).
This phrase is used to state that the speaker consumes food. In Japanese, the direct object (the thing being eaten) is marked by the particle o. While the personal pronoun watashi can be used to mean "I", the subject is often omitted in natural Japanese when it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about themselves.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 食べます is the formal way to say "I eat". For informal situations, such as when speaking with friends or family, you can use the informal version 食べる.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 食べます can express both a habitual action ("I eat") and a future action ("I will eat"). The past tense of this verb is 食べました (I ate), and the negative form is 食べません (I do not eat / I will not eat). Regarding the subject "I", watashi is a standard pronoun, while boku is an informal way to say "I".
How do you pronounce it?
tabemasu
Did you know?
- In Japan, making a loud slurping sound while eating noodles is often a sign that the food is delicious and is not considered rude.
- When saying 'I eat' before a meal, Japanese people rarely use tabemasu and instead use the set phrase itadakimasu, which literally means 'I humbly receive'.
- When finishing a meal, it is customary to say ごちそうさまでした, which acknowledges the feast and the effort of the cook.
Examples in context
- 豆腐を食べます。I eat tofu.This sentence shows how to use 食べます with a specific food item.Tatoeba #8534154 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #1370868 by TuckingFypo
- 毎日パンを食べます。I eat bread every day.This sentence demonstrates the use of 食べます to describe a daily habit.Tatoeba #11594632 by small_snow, translation #7114552 by CK
- 卵は毎朝一つ食べます。I eat an egg every morning.This sentence shows 食べます used within a sentence describing a morning routine.Tatoeba #10903691 by small_snow, translation #10903692 by CK
- Ramen o taberu. (ラーメンを食べる)I eat ramen.
- Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu. (私は寿司を食べます)I eat sushi.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are deciding what to have for lunch.
- 結衣 Yui健太さんは何を食べますか？Kenta-san wa nani o tabemasu ka?Kenta, what will you eat?
- 健太 Kenta私はカレーを食べます。Watashi wa karee o tabemasu.I will eat curry.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。私もそれにします。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo sore ni shimasu.That sounds good. I'll have that too.
- 健太 Kenta一緒に注文しましょう。Issho ni chumon shimashou.Let's order together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
