Use しゃべる for conversation in everyday situations.
The idea
しゃべる is a godan verb meaning to chat or talk. Mark a conversation partner with と and a topic with について. Its polite stem is しゃべり; しゃべっている can describe chatting in progress.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| しゃべる | しゃべります | しゃべりません | しゃべりました | しゃべって |
Examples
- 友達とカフェでしゃべりました。I chatted with a friend at a café.
- 休み時間に同僚としゃべります。I chat with a colleague during the break.
- 昨日は電話で姉と長くしゃべりました。Yesterday I chatted with my older sister on the phone for a long time.
- 授業中はしゃべりません。先生の話を聞きます。I do not chat during class. I listen to the teacher.
- 二人は旅行について楽しくしゃべっています。The two are happily chatting about their trip.
- 駅までしゃべりながら歩きました。We walked to the station while chatting.
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Watch out
Despite ending in る, it is godan: the て form is しゃべって, not しゃべて. It often sounds casual; 話す is a safer choice for a formal speech.
Try it yourself
＿。（しゃべる→ます）
Show answer or example answer
しゃべります
しゃべります is the polite non-past: godan る changes to り before ます.
＿。（しゃべる→て）
Show answer or example answer
しゃべって
しゃべって is the て form; the final る becomes って.
友達＿しゃべります。（と／を）
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と
と marks the person with whom you chat.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
＿。（しゃべる→ます）
＿。（しゃべる→て）
友達＿しゃべります。（と／を）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Describe chatting with a friend, then change your sentence to the polite past.