- Basic forms
- 教える — to teach, to tell / base form
- 教えます — polite / I teach / masu form
- 教えた — past / taught / ta form
- 教えて — te-form / teach (and…) / linking or request
- 教えない — negative / don’t teach / negative form
- 教えれば — if (I) teach / conditional
- 教えろ・教えよ — teach! / imperative
- Other common forms
- 教えたい — want to teach / 〜たい form
- 教えられる — can teach / be taught / potential / passive
- 教えられた — could teach / was taught (past)
- 教えられない — can’t teach / can’t be taught
- More
- 教えよう — let’s teach / 〜よう form
- 教えなかった — didn’t teach / negative past
- 教えている — teaching / explaining right now / progressive
教える (おしえる) is an ichidan (る-verb). Drop る and add endings like ます, た, て, ない. Commonly used both for “teaching” and “telling” someone information.
- 教育 — education
- 教師 — teacher
- 教会 — church
- 宗教 — religion
- 教授 — professor
- 説教 — sermon, lecture, scolding
The character 教 combines the elements for "filial piety" and "action" or "strike," indicating teaching by example and discipline. It conveys instruction, learning, and religious teachings passed on through generations.
日本語を教えるのが好きです。
I like teaching Japanese.
良い教育は 未来をつくります。
Good education creates the future.
