The Masu-Form (Polite Form)
The Masu-form (~ใพใ) is the standard polite form in Japanese. It's the safest and most common way to speak with people you don't know well.
Why use the Masu-form?
In Japanese, the level of politeness changes depending on who you are talking to. The dictionary form (plain form) is used with close friends and family.
The Masu-form is used in most everyday situations: talking to strangers, teachers, older people, or colleagues. If you aren't sure which form to use, the Masu-form is always the safest choice.
Mastering the Masu-form also unlocks other grammar patterns, like saying 'I want to...' (~tai) or 'Let's...' (~mashou).
Masu-Form Conjugation Rules
Example Sentences
Teacher's Advice
The part of the verb before 'masu' is called the 'Masu-stem' (e.g., 'tabe' from 'tabemasu', 'nomi' from 'nomimasu'). This stem is highly useful! You can add '~tai' to mean 'want to' (tabetai - want to eat) or '~nasai' for commands (tabenasai - eat!). Remember the stem!
JLPT Patterns
- โขใใพใใใ (~mashou) - Let's do (N5)
- โขใใพใใใ (~masen ka) - Won't you do / Would you like to do (N5)
- โขใใใใงใ (~tai desu) - Want to do (N5)
- โขใใซใใใพใ (~ni ikimasu) - Go to do something (N5)
When Japanese People Actually Drop the -masu
Students often assume the Masu-form is the 'default' and the Plain form is the exception. In real speech among peers, it is the other way around. Once two people establish that they are speaking casually, switching back to Masu-form mid-conversation can sound distant, or even like a subtle way of putting up a wall.
The switch usually happens in one direction only, at the start of a relationship: you begin in Masu-form with someone new, and only drop it once they invite you to (็ดๆฅ or through their own tone shifting first). Dropping it before they do is a common learner mistake. It can read as overly familiar, especially with someone older.
Related Grammar
Practice Polite Japanese
Try our grammar exercises to master the Masu-form in all its tenses.