……
Breakdown of dekiru
するsuru
to do
Usages of dekiru
できません。dekimasen.
I can't do it.
〜こと が できる〜koto ga dekiru
to be able to; to be possible to
日本語 が できます。nihongo ga dekimasu.
(I) can speak Japanese.
時間 を 止めること は できません。jikan o tomerukoto wa dekimasen.
(You) cannot stop time.
Using は in this sentence might be more suitable because it is more all-encompassing than が (it implies that no one can stop time), while が is more specific and might refer to something like being unable to stop time on a personal capacity.
できる だけ 早く 日本語 を 学びたい です。dekiru dake hayaku nihongo o manabitai desu.
(I) want to learn Japanese as quickly as possible.
注文 は できます か？chuumon wa dekimasu ka?
Can I order?
ガス が 切れた ので、 料理 が できない。gasu ga kireta node, ryouri ga dekinai.
The gas ran out, so I can't cook.
信頼 できるshinrai dekiru
trustworthy; able to be trusted
The structure [noun] + できる is a common way to express the ability or possibility related to the noun. This construction turns the noun into an adjective describing the noun that follows.
子供 で も、 できます。kodomo de mo, dekimasu.
Even a child can do it.
Test yourself: What does dekiru mean?
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning JapaneseMaster Japanese — from dekiru to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions