やる
yaru[ja̠ɾɯ̟]
yaru is the Japanese verb meaning 'to do' or 'to perform'.
In many contexts, やる is a more casual or rough version of the standard verb suru. It can carry a colloquial, energetic or sometimes rougher nuance depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
While suru is the standard verb for 'to do', やる often carries a more colloquial, energetic or sometimes even rougher nuance depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of やる is やった.
How do you pronounce it?
yaru
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, yaru can be used as a slang term for 'to have sex' or 'to hook up', making it potentially risky in ambiguous casual conversations.
- In certain contexts, such as when talking to animals or plants, yaru is used to mean 'to give'. While it sounds like 'to do', it functions as a way to describe providing care or nourishment to a lower-ranking being.
- When used in a confrontational tone, yaru can mean 'to attack' or 'to kill', often heard in action movies or anime during fight scenes.
Examples in context
- 一緒にゲームをやろうよ！Let's play games together!
- よし、明日もやる。Yoshi, ashita mo yaru.Alright, I'll do it tomorrow too.
Example conversation
At home, deciding what to do in the evening.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、今からゲームをやる？Yui, ima kara geemu o yaru?Yui, do you want to play a game now?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ、何をやる？Ii yo, nani o yaru?Sure, what are we playing?
- 陽太 Yotaこの新しいゲームをやろう。Kono atarashii geemu o yarou.Let's play this new game.
- 結衣 Yuiやった！楽しみだね。Yatta! Tanoshimi dane.Yay! I'm looking forward to it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry やる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
