The verbs and habits of an ordinary day, from dropping things to locking up.
These are the actions of an ordinary day once the first weeks are behind you: dropping things and picking them up, checking, carrying, searching and staying up late. Several verbs here are one half of a pair whose other half came earlier — 落とす and 落ちる, 倒す and 倒れる — and the note under each names its partner. Nouns such as 夜更かし and 徹夜 become verbs with する, which is how they are mostly used.
The words
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Verb (29)
倒すto knock over; to bring downVerbN3
ひじが当たって、コップを倒してしまった。I caught the glass with my elbow and knocked it over.
Its partner is 倒れる, to fall over.
拾うto pick up (from the ground); to findVerbN4
道で財布を拾ったので、交番に届けた。I found a wallet in the street, so I handed it in at the police box.
Also hailing a taxi in the street: タクシーを拾う.
積むto pile up; to loadVerbN3
引っ越しの荷物をトラックに積んだ。We loaded our things for the move onto the lorry.
抱えるto carry in one's arms; to have (a problem)VerbN2
彼女は大きな箱を両手で抱えて入ってきた。She came in carrying a big box in both arms.
背負うto carry on one's backVerbN3
子どもたちはランドセルを背負って学校へ行く。The children go to school with their satchels on their backs.
確かめるto check; to make sureVerbN3
家を出る前に、ガスを消したか確かめた。Before leaving the house, I made sure I had turned off the gas.
揃えるto put in order; to line up neatly; to collect (a full set)VerbN3
玄関で脱いだ靴は、きちんと揃えなさい。Line up the shoes you take off in the entrance neatly.
Its partner is 揃う, to be all there.
通りかかるto happen to pass byVerbN2
花屋の前を通りかかったら、いい匂いがした。As I happened to walk past the florist's, there was a lovely smell.
待ち合わせるto arrange to meetVerbN3
友達と駅の改札で待ち合わせた。I arranged to meet my friend at the station ticket gates.
取り出すto take outVerbN3
彼はポケットからスマホを取り出して、写真を見せてくれた。He took his phone out of his pocket and showed me a photo.
持ち歩くto carry around (with one)VerbN3
雨の多い季節は、折りたたみの傘を持ち歩いている。In the rainy season I carry a folding umbrella around with me.
持ち帰るto take home; to take away (food)VerbN3
食べきれなかった料理を持ち帰ってもいいですか。May I take home the food I could not finish?
置き忘れるto leave (something) behindVerbN3
どこかに眼鏡を置き忘れてしまったらしい。I seem to have left my glasses somewhere.
見かけるto happen to see; to come acrossVerbN3
最近、この辺で外国人の観光客をよく見かける。Recently I often see foreign tourists around here.
すすぐto rinseVerbN2
歯を磨いた後、水で口をすすぐ。After brushing my teeth, I rinse my mouth with water.
Usually written in kana.
戻すto put back; to returnVerbN4
使ったはさみは、元の場所に戻してね。Put the scissors back where they were once you have used them.
Its partner is 戻る, to go back.
読み返すto read again; to read throughVerbN3
送る前に、メールをもう一度読み返した。I read the email through once more before sending it.
落とすto drop; to loseVerbN4
階段でスマホを落として、画面が割れた。I dropped my phone on the stairs and the screen cracked.
Its partner is 落ちる, to fall.
集めるto collect; to gatherVerbN4
弟は子どものころから切手を集めている。My younger brother has collected stamps since he was a child.
Its partner is 集まる, to gather together.
入れ替えるto swap over; to replaceVerbN2
季節が変わったので、たんすの服を入れ替えた。The season had changed, so I swapped over the clothes in the chest of drawers.
探し回るto search all over; to go round lookingVerbN3
娘がほしがっていたおもちゃを、店を何軒も探し回ってやっと見つけた。I went round shop after shop and finally found the toy my daughter wanted.
出迎えるto go out to meet; to welcomeVerbN3
空港まで祖母を出迎えに行った。I went to the airport to meet my grandmother.
押さえるto hold down; to hold in placeVerbN3
風で飛ばないように、紙を手で押さえた。I held the paper down with my hand so that the wind would not blow it away.
呼び出すto call (someone) out; to summon; to pageVerbN3
放課後、担任の先生に職員室へ呼び出された。After school my class teacher called me to the staff room.
訪ねるto visit (a person or a place)VerbN4
久しぶりに、大学の先輩を訪ねた。For the first time in ages I visited an older friend from university.
Not 尋ねる, to ask, which sounds the same.
鳴らすto ring; to soundVerbN3
玄関のチャイムを鳴らしたが、誰も出てこなかった。I rang the doorbell, but nobody came to the door.
Its partner is 鳴る, to ring.
増やすto increase; to add toVerbN3
健康のために、歩く時間を増やすことにした。I have decided to walk more, for my health.
Its partner is 増える, to increase.
回すto turn; to pass roundVerbN4
鍵を右に回すと、ドアが開きます。Turn the key to the right and the door opens.
Its partner is 回る, to go round.
使い切るto use upVerbN3
シャンプーを使い切ったので、新しいのを買ってきた。I had used up the shampoo, so I went and bought a new bottle.
This list belongs to Home and daily life — ten lists and 404 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.