ある

あ

る

ある · godan verb (-ru, irregular)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	ある	ない
Polite	あります	ありません
Past polite	ありました	ありませんでした
Past	あった	なかった
Te-form	あって	ないで
Desire	ありたい	ありたくない
Volitional	あろう
Polite volitional	ありましょう
Imperative	あれ	あるな
Conditional	あれば	なければ
Tara conditional	あったら	なかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-ru, irregular), intransitive verb

be; exist

usually written using kana alone

Basic existential verb, usually for inanimate things, places, abstract matters, and events. People and animals normally use いる; English may sometimes translate this broadly as 'live' only in the sense of 'exist' or 'be present.'

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に〈物もの〉があるthere is 〈物〉 at/in 〈場所〉
部屋へやに机つくえがある。
There is a desk in the room.
〈人ひと〉に〈物もの〉があるsomeone has something (possession)
彼かれにはお金かねがある。
He has money.
〈場ば所しょ〉は〈場ば所しょ〉にあるa place is located at/in another place
学がっ校こうは駅えきの近ちかくにある。
The school is located near the station.
〈物もの〉には〈物もの〉があるsomething is equipped with a certain feature
この車くるまにはナビがある。
This car has a navigation system.
〈事こと〉があるan event takes place
明日あした会かい議ぎがある。
There is a meeting tomorrow.
〈動どう詞し〉てあるsomething has been done and remains in that state
ドアが開あけてある。
The door has been left open.

Expressions· 13

ありとあらゆるevery conceivable; all kinds of; every possible
然さ有ありit is so; it is as such
由よし有あるof noble birth; of rank
ありけるsaid; aforementioned
あるだけall that one has; all that there is; the whole

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あるなしpresence or absence; whether something is there or not; whether something happens or not
ありもしないnonexistent; imaginary; spurious
ありがたくいただくaccept with thanks
あるかなきかbarely there; almost nonexistent

See all 13 in Explore →

Grammar

See all 4 grammar points ›

Kanji

有possess, have, exist
在exist, outskirts, suburbs

Related words· 9

いるN5sense 1
ある is used for inanimate things, places, and abstract matters, while 居る is the parallel verb used for people and animals.
持もつN5sense 2
持つ is a transitive verb meaning to hold or own something directly, while ある expresses the same idea of possession indirectly, as in お金がある.
起おこるN4sense 5
起こる emphasizes an event or problem actually occurring, while ある is broader and covers even scheduled events like 会議がある.
備そなわるN1sense 4
備わる is a more formal way to say a feature or ability is built in, while ある is the everyday word for saying a facility or feature exists.

Show 5 more

とある
ある is the plain, neutral way to say 'a certain ...', while とある carries a more literary or storytelling nuance, often opening a narrative.
あり
あり is the literary or formal written form of ある, the standard modern verb for existence and possession.
さるN4
然る is a formal, literary way to say 'a certain' before a noun, while ある is the everyday verb-derived form used the same way but with a plainer register.
某ぼう
某 is a formal prefix/noun for 'a certain' used in written or official contexts, while ある is the everyday prenominal word used before nouns like ある日 'one day'.
ござる
ある is the plain, neutral verb of existence, while ござる is its old-fashioned polite/honorific counterpart.

Opposites

ないN1
ある asserts that something exists or is present, while 無い denies its existence in exactly the same grammatical patterns.
ねー
ある means something exists or is present, the opposite of ねー, which (like ない) denotes nonexistence or absence.

Politeness

ございますN1
ある is the plain, neutral verb for existence or possession, while ございます is its very formal, deferential form used in customer service and ceremonial speech.

Don't confuse with

いるN5
いる is used for animate beings like people and animals, while ある is used for inanimate objects and abstract things.

Word family· 28

ありのままN1
as it is; plain; unvarnished; frank
ありありN1
clearly; vividly; distinctly
ありがたみ
value; worth; preciousness; blessing
ありったけ
all; everything; the whole · as much as possible; to the utmost
有あり金がね
money on hand; ready cash

Show 15 more

有あり余あまる
be superfluous; be in excess; be more than enough
ありがたがる
feel grateful; show gratitude; be thankful
ありつく
get; obtain; come by; find
ありがたし
what a blessing; how fortunate
ありてい
the unvarnished truth; frankly; plainly
有あり得う
to be possible; to be conceivable; to be likely
ありふれたN2
common; ordinary; commonplace; trite
ありき
based on; originating from; premised on
有あり丈たけ
all one has; everything available; the whole
ありげ
seeming to have; appearing to be
有あり高だか
amount on hand; cash on hand; balance
事こと有あり顔がお
worried look; troubled face
御ご座ざ有ある
to be; to exist · to come; to go · to be (doing)
ありがち
common; frequent; often seen
ありそう
likely; probable; plausible

See all 28 in Explore →

Written forms

あるUsage99%
Standard everyday spelling. The senses are usually written in kana.
有あるUsage<1%
Kanji spelling associated broadly with existence, possession, availability, and occurrence; less common than kana in ordinary modern writing.
在あるUsage<1%
Kanji spelling especially associated with existing or being located somewhere; kana is still more usual in everyday writing.
アルUsage0%

Etymology

A native Japanese verb with very old basic existential use. The kanji 有る and 在る are conventional spellings that distinguish nuances of existence/possession and location, but modern everyday Japanese usually writes the word in kana.

Meanings

godan verb (-ru, irregular), intransitive verb

be; exist

usually written using kana alone