Translation guide
The English verb 'do' has many grammatical roles. This guide covers its main uses: as an auxiliary verb in questions and negatives, as a main verb meaning 'perform an action', for emphasis, and in short answers. Japanese handles these functions very differently, often without a direct equivalent.
Forming yes/no and wh- questions in English, where 'do' has no direct Japanese equivalent. Instead, Japanese uses the question particle か or rising intonation.
Add か to the end of a sentence to form a polite question. In casual speech, か is often omitted and replaced by rising intonation.
Are you a student?
What do you do?
In casual speech, simply raise the pitch at the end of a statement to turn it into a question. No particle is needed.
Are you going to the party?
Forming negative statements in English, where 'do not/don't' has no direct Japanese equivalent. Japanese uses the negative form of the verb or adjective.
Conjugate the verb into its negative form. For verbs, this is the ない-form. For い-adjectives, replace い with くない. For な-adjectives and nouns, use ではない/じゃない.
I don't eat meat.
Using 'do' as a general verb for performing an unspecified action. Japanese uses する (suru) as the generic 'do' verb.
The most common equivalent. It can mean 'do', 'play', 'make', etc., depending on the object. Often used with nouns to form verbs (e.g., 勉強する = study).
Adding emphasis in English ('I do like it'). Japanese uses adverbs like 本当に or sentence-final particles for emphasis.
Place an adverb before the verb to add emphasis. 本当に (really), 確かに (certainly), 絶対に (absolutely) are common.
I do like it.
Using 'do' to avoid repeating a verb ('Yes, I do'). Japanese often repeats the verb or uses そう.
In Japanese, you typically answer by repeating the verb from the question in its appropriate form.
Using 'do' in causative constructions ('make someone do something'). Japanese uses the causative form of verbs.
The causative form means 'make/let someone do'. Formed by adding させる to the verb stem.
My mother made me do my homework.
English uses 'do' as an auxiliary in questions and negatives, but Japanese does not have an equivalent auxiliary. Simply use the question particle か or negative verb forms. Translating 'do' as する in these contexts is incorrect.
Incorrect: Do you like?
する is the standard verb for 'do'. やる is more casual and can sound rough or masculine. Use する in most situations. やる is common in set phrases like ゲームをやる (play games) or when speaking roughly.
He is not a student.
Polite negative form. Use the ます-stem + ません.
I don't eat meat. (polite)
何をしているの？
What are you doing?
Do your homework.
A more casual or rough equivalent of する. Often used in informal contexts or when the action is physical.
Do it now!
Formal 'do', used for events, ceremonies, procedures. Not for everyday actions.
We will hold a meeting.
Adding よ or んだ (explanatory) can add emphasis or assertiveness.
I do like it! (emphatic, explanatory)
A: Do you watch movies? B: Yes, I do.
そう can be used to mean 'so' or 'like that', often in responses like そうです (that's right) or そう思います (I think so).
A: Will he come? B: I think so.
play a game (both ok, やる is more casual)