ある
ある
aru
= to exist / to have / to be (for inanimate)
Aru (ある) is one of the most essential verbs in Japanese, expressing existence or possession. It’s used countless times daily.
Aru is an irregular u-verb expressing: (1) existence of inanimate objects; (2) possession; (3) future plans. Aru differs from ‘iru’ which expresses existence for living things.
Aru is irregular: ar-u → ar-anai (doesn’t exist), at-ta (existed). The negative ‘nai’ is crucial: ‘okane ga nai’ (don’t have money).
ある is typically written in hiragana. Kanji form 有 is less common in modern Japanese.
Everyday use
机の上に本があります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
There are books on the desk.
Casual / Social Media
私は兄弟がいます。
Watashi wa kyoudai ga imasu.
I have siblings.
Formal / Cultural context
明日会議があります。
Ashita kaigi ga arimasu.
There’s a meeting tomorrow.
Aru and iru structure how Japanese speakers conceptualize existence and possession.
Understanding aru is fundamental to Japanese grammar and daily communication.
Disclosure: This site may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.