……
Breakdown of aku
open
開
If you open a gate, the gate is open.
Usages of aku
お店 は 午前 八時 に 開きます。omise ha gozen hatizi ni akimasu.
The shop opens at 8 a.m.
ドア が 開いて います。doa ga aite imasu.
The door is open.
スーツケース が 開いて います。suutukeesu ga aite imasu.
The suitcase is open.
プール が 開いて いない ので、 海 で 泳ぎました。puuru ga aite inai node, umi de oyogimasita.
The pool was not open, so I swam in the sea.
引き出し が 開かない。hikidasi ga akanai.
The drawer won't open.
ボタン を 押す と、 ドア が 開きました。botan wo osu to, doa ga akimasita.
When I pressed the button, the door opened.
Test yourself: What does aku 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 aku 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