To Do Flashcards
単語 (たんご) Vocabulary
“To Do” – Vocabulary List and Overview
These verbs all involve doing or carrying out actions, but they differ in tone, usage, and formality:
- する（Suru）: To do – basic and universal action verb
- やる（Yaru）: To do / try / give – casual alternative to する. Very slangy and informal
- 行（い）く（Iku）: To go – often used with the 〜て form for ongoing actions
- やってみる（Yatte miru）: To try doing – to give something a try
- 行（おこな）う（Okonau）: To conduct / carry out – formal and written
- 実行（じっこう）する（Jikkou suru）: To execute / implement – very formal, used for plans or actions
- する（Suru）
する（Suru）: To do / To perform
Irregular verb
JLPT N5
Notes:
- Most basic and common “do” verb in Japanese
- Used with a wide range of nouns to form compound verbs (e.g., 勉強する = to study)
- Very flexible and appears in all levels of speech (casual to formal)
- Polite form: します
Usage Patterns:
[Noun] + を + する / します
Do [noun]
```
勉強をします。
Benkyou o shimasu.
I study.
スポーツをします。
Supootsu o shimasu.
I play sports.
**[Suru-verb noun] + する / します** Do [suru-verb]
掃除します。
Souji shimasu.
I clean.
運動します。
Undou shimasu.
I exercise.
~~~
- やる（Yaru）
やる（Yaru）: To do / To try / To give
Godan verb
Informal / Slangy
JLPT N5
Notes:
- Casual or slang alternative to する
- Common in conversation, anime, and among friends
- Can also mean “to give” (to someone lower in status or animals)
- Not appropriate in formal or polite settings
Usage Patterns:
[Noun] + を + やる / やります
Do [noun] (casual tone)
ゲームをやる。 Geemu o yaru. (I) play games. 仕事をやります。 Shigoto o yarimasu. (I) do work. (casual but polite form)
[Person / Animal] + に + やる
Give to (a subordinate, child, or animal)
犬にエサをやる。 Inu ni esa o yaru. (I) feed the dog. 子どもにおもちゃをやります。 Kodomo ni omocha o yarimasu. (I) give a toy to the child.
- 行（い）く（Iku）
行（い）く（Iku）: To go / To proceed (to do something)
Godan verb
JLPT N5
Notes:
- Primarily means “to go” but often used with 〜て form to express continuing or proceeding with an action
- Emphasizes directionality or progression of the action
- Common in spoken Japanese and narrative style (e.g., in anime or storytelling)
- Polite form: 行きます（いきます）
Usage Patterns:
[Verb て-form] + いく / いきます
Go and do / Continue doing
走っていく。 Hashitte iku. (I) run off / run away. 勉強していきます。 Benkyou shite ikimasu. I’ll keep studying / I’ll go study now.
[Place] + に + 行く / 行きます
Go to [place] to do something
映画を見に行く。 Eiga o mi ni iku. (I) go to see a movie. 図書館へ本を借りに行きます。 Toshokan e hon o kari ni ikimasu. I’m going to the library to borrow a book.
- やってみる（Yatte miru）
やってみる（Yatte miru）: To try doing (something)
Compound verb: やる (to do) + みる (to try)
JLPT N4
Notes:
- Used when trying out an action to see what happens
- やって is the て-form of やる; みる here is not “to see” but a helper verb meaning “try”
- Common in daily conversation and anime when someone is attempting something new
- Polite form: やってみます
Usage Patterns:
[Verb て-form] + みる / みます
Try doing [verb]
新しいゲームをやってみる。 Atarashii geemu o yatte miru. (I’ll) try playing a new game. 日本語で話してみます。 Nihongo de hanashite mimasu. I’ll try speaking in Japanese.
[Noun] + を + やってみる / やってみます
Try doing [noun-related action]
料理をやってみる。 Ryouri o yatte miru. Try cooking. 新しいことをやってみます。 Atarashii koto o yatte mimasu. I’ll try something new.
- 実行（じっこう）する（Jikkou suru）
実行（じっこう）する（Jikkou suru）: To execute / To carry out / To implement
する-verb
JLPT N2
Notes:
- Formal verb used for carrying out actions, decisions, or plans
- Common in technical, business, or academic contexts
- Implies deliberate, planned execution
- Polite form: 実行します
Usage Patterns:
[Plan / Task] + を + 実行する / 実行します
Carry out or implement a plan/task
計画を実行する。 Keikaku o jikkou suru. Carry out the plan. プログラムを実行します。 Puroguramu o jikkou shimasu. Execute the program.
[Action / Idea] + の + 実行
Execution/implementation of an idea
彼の提案の実行が必要です。 Kare no teian no jikkou ga hitsuyou desu. The implementation of his proposal is necessary.
- 行（おこな）う（Okonau）
行（おこな）う（Okonau）: To carry out / To conduct / To hold
Godan verb
JLPT N2
Notes:
- Very formal verb, mostly used in writing, news reports, and speeches
- Similar in meaning to 実行する, but more often used for events, ceremonies, operations, or investigations
- Polite form: 行います（おこないます）
- In daily conversation, often replaced by する
Usage Patterns:
[Event / Action] + を + 行う / 行います
Conduct / perform / carry out
試験を行う。 Shiken o okonau. Conduct an exam. 式を行います。 Shiki o okonaimasu. We will hold a ceremony.
[Investigation / Survey] + を + 行う / 行います
Carry out (an investigation or survey)
調査を行う。 Chousa o okonau. Conduct an investigation. アンケートを行います。 Ankeeto o okonaimasu. We will conduct a survey.
When to Use Which
All these verbs relate to “doing” something, but vary by formality, tone, and context.
する（Suru）
The most basic, versatile verb for “to do”
→ Use in all situations: 勉強する、掃除する
→ Polite: します
やる（Yaru）
Casual or slangy version of する
→ Use in informal speech, anime, or with friends
→ Also means “to give” (to animals, kids, subordinates)
行（い）く（Iku）
Means “to go,” but used with て-form or stem-form for actions
→ ～ていく = to go and do / continue doing
→ ～に行く = to go to do something
やってみる（Yatte miru）
To try doing something
→ Use to express trying something out casually
行（おこな）う（Okonau）
Very formal “to conduct” or “to hold”
→ Use in writing, reports, events, ceremonies
実行（じっこう）する（Jikkou suru）
Formal “to execute” or “to implement”
→ Use for plans, commands, programs, systems
Tips:
- For daily speech, stick with する and やる
- Use やってみる to express curiosity or experimentation
- Use 実行する and 行う in formal writing or professional situations
Review Quiz
Quiz: Which “To Do” Verb Fits Best?
Choose the most appropriate verb for each sentence.
Notes:
- Review meanings, usage patterns, and levels of formality
- One correct answer per sentence
Usage Quiz:
- 新しいレシピを＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Try a new recipe. - そのイベントは来週の月曜日に＿＿＿＿＿＿。
The event will be held next Monday. - 宿題を＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Do homework. (neutral, common) - 子どもに水を＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Give water to a child. (casual) - ダイエット計画を＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Execute the diet plan. (formal) - プログラムを＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Run/execute the program. - 映画を見に＿＿＿＿＿＿。
Go to see a movie.
Answers:
1. やってみる（Yatte miru）
2. 行う（Okonau）
3. する（Suru）
4. やる（Yaru）
5. 実行する（Jikkou suru）
6. 実行する（Jikkou suru）
7. 行く（Iku）
