LearnJapanese Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese




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Oh no, U and Ru verbs,

Oh no, U and Ru verbs, really? It's so much simpler to classify it as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3.

One thing I would like to point out, for T1 verbs, "U" verbs, ending in -iru/-eru with multiple syllables in the stem (with the exception of 交じる and 落ちる, less commonly 交る and practically never 落る), the entire stem is "often" encompassed by the kanji, whereas T2 verbs, "Ru" verbs, always have a syllable hanging out. This method naturally isn't as successful with one syllable stems, but then again, there can only be so many of them, and most of them are pretty common. There are probably more exceptions out there, of course.

入る vs 入れる (hairu >< ireru)
焦る vs 褪せる (aseru >< aseru)
帰る vs 変える (kaeru >< kaeru)
握る vs 逃げる (nigiru >< nigeru)
滑る vs 統べる (suberu >< suberu)
喋る vs 食べる (shaberu >< taberu)
蘇る vs 考える (yomigaeru >< kangaeru)
嘲る vs 見つける (azakeru >< mitsukeru)

Various other T2 verbs with the hanging stem (Pretty much all of them do, it seems):
忘れる、諦める、閉める、始める、燃える、焼ける、暖める、破れる、壊れる

With a few tweaks, it could be a set rule. Maybe there should be some movement to further standardize the writing of Japanese, haha. But I wouldn't doubt it if Japan's already on such a venture.


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