Translation guide
The concept of existence in Japanese is expressed through different verbs and grammatical structures depending on whether the subject is animate or inanimate, and whether the context is formal or casual. This guide covers the most common ways to express existence, from basic verbs to philosophical terms.
There is a cat.
There is a book.
Expressing that someone or something exists, is present, or is located somewhere.
Used for animate things (people, animals). Casual form. The polite form is います.
There is a cat.
Is Mr. Tanaka there?
Used for inanimate things (objects, plants, abstract concepts). Casual form. The polite form is あります.
A more formal or philosophical term for existence, used for both animate and inanimate things. Often used in written or academic contexts.
Does God exist?
Describing a state of being, often with a focus on location or possession.
The te-iru form of a verb can indicate a continuing state resulting from an action, which can be seen as a form of existence. For example, 'to be married' or 'to be living somewhere'.
He is married.
I live in Tokyo.
Indicates that something has been intentionally put into a state and remains in that state. Often used for preparations or arrangements.
The window has been left open.
Discussing the concept of existence in a philosophical, metaphysical, or abstract sense.
Use いる for living, moving things (people, animals). Use ある for non-living things (objects, plants, concepts). However, robots or AI may be referred to with いる if they are perceived as animate. When in doubt, ある is safer for inanimate objects.
There is a robot (treated as animate).
There is a robot (treated as inanimate).
In everyday conversation, directly translating 'existence' as 存在 is often too formal or philosophical. Use いる or ある for simple statements of presence or location.
Do ghosts exist?
Using 存在する for a more abstract question.
There is a park near my house.
There is a book on the desk.
There is a problem.
そのような事例は存在しない。
Such cases do not exist.
テーブルの上に花が飾ってある。
Flowers have been arranged on the table.
生存競争
struggle for existence