食べる
taberuto consume food by putting it in the mouth and swallowing it
彼は毎日朝ごはんを食べます
He eats breakfast every day.
This is the most common and basic meaning of the verb.
to have a meal (often used with specific meal names)
夕食を食べに行きましょう
Let's go out to have dinner.
Often used with specific meal names like 朝ごはん (breakfast), 昼ごはん (lunch), 夕食 (dinner).
to eat something specific (often used with specific foods)
私はリンゴを食べます
I eat an apple.
Can be used with specific foods like リンゴ (apple), バナナ (banana), etc.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Polite vs. Casual
'食べる' is the polite form. The casual form '食う' is used in informal contexts.
Meal Specifics
When referring to specific meals, use 'ご飯' (meal) with '食べる'.
⚡Gold Rule
Verb Conjugation
'食べる' is a Group 2 verb (ru-verb). Its stem is '食べ' and it conjugates like other ru-verbs.
📖Word Origin
From Old Japanese 'taberu', derived from the verb '食う' (to eat). The kanji 食 is a pictograph representing the act of eating.
📝Usage Notes
The verb '食べる' is a polite form of '食う' (to eat). It is commonly used in everyday conversation and is the standard form taught to learners. The te-form '食べて' is often used in casual speech and commands.