Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
五段活用 (ごだんかつよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
godan verb conjugation
grammar
A fundamental conjugation class in Japanese grammar where the verb stem ends in a consonant and the final kana changes across all five vowel rows (a, i, u, e, o). Contrasts with 一段活用 (ichidan conjugation).
See also: 一段活用 (いちだんかつよう) · 五段動詞 (ごだんどうし)
Please explain the difference between godan and ichidan conjugation.
Kanji 活 lively, resuscitation, being helped 用 utilize, business, service Similar words 一いち 段だん 活かつ 用よう Ichidan (one-step) conjugation: the verb stem ends in a vowel and only the final る changes or drops; conjugation is simpler than godan.
五ご 段だん 動どう 詞し Godan verb: a verb that follows godan conjugation. 五段活用 is the conjugation pattern itself, while 五段動詞 refers to the verb class.
Etymology From 五 (go, 'five') + 段 (dan, 'step/row') + 活用 (katsuyō, 'conjugation'), referring to the five vowel rows (a, i, u, e, o) used in the conjugation pattern.
