Use 伺う to speak respectfully about your own actions toward another person.
The idea
伺う is a humble godan verb for asking or hearing, and for going or visiting. Use に for the person asked or the destination, を for what is asked or heard, and から for the source of information. Context identifies the meaning.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 伺う | 伺います | 伺いません | 伺いました | 伺って |
Examples
- 先生に予定を伺います。I will ask the teacher about the schedule.
- 後でご意見を伺ってもいいですか。May I ask for your opinion later?
- 明日、御社に伺います。I will visit your company tomorrow.
- 先週、社長のお宅に伺いました。Last week I visited the president’s home.
- 田中さんからその話を伺いました。I heard that from Mr Tanaka.
- 来週は伺えませんが、電話いたします。I cannot visit next week, but I will call.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
伺う lowers the speaker’s action; do not use it to describe a respected person visiting you. Use an honorific such as いらっしゃる for their action. Its て form is 伺って.
Try it yourself
＿。（伺う→ます）
Show answer or example answer
伺います
伺います is the polite non-past form; context determines present or future.
＿。（伺う→て）
Show answer or example answer
伺って
伺って is the て form: the final う changes to って.
私が先生に質問を＿。（伺います／いらっしゃいます）
Show answer or example answer
伺います
伺います fits the speaker’s humble question; いらっしゃいます honors the subject instead.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
＿。（伺う→ます）
＿。（伺う→て）
私が先生に質問を＿。（伺います／いらっしゃいます）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Ask a teacher for an opinion, then make a sentence about visiting their office.