できる・出来るdekiru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be good at; to do well; to be proficient (in); to be capable
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto come into existence; to form; to appear; to come up (of a matter); to be born; to make (a friend); to get (a girlfriend, free time, etc.)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be made; to be built; to be constructed; to be formed; to be established; to be set up
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be finished; to be completed; to be done; to be ready
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto grow (of a crop); to be produced
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be mature and well-balanced; to be of fine character
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be by nature; to be born ...as できている
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become (sexually) involved (with); to become intimate (with); to take up (with someone)usu. as できている
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto get pregnant
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | できる |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | できます |
| Negative (nai) | できない |
| polite (masen) | できません |
| classical zu / nu | できず・できぬ |
| Past (ta) | できた |
| polite (mashita) | できました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | できなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | できませんでした |
| Te form | できて |
| Potential | できられる |
| Passive | できられる |
| Causative | できさせる |
| Causative passive | できさせられる |
| Conditional (ba) | できれば |
| tara | できたら |
| Volitional | できよう |
| polite (mashou) | できましょう |
| Imperative | できろ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym有能ゆうのうNeutralClose to 「できる」 only in the sense of being good at or capable: it describes a talented person, as in 「有能な社員」. 「できる人」 is the colloquial way to say this.
- Related可能かのうNeutralA noun and adjectival noun for feasibility — that something can be realized, as in 「実現可能」 or 「可能性」. It leans written/formal; in speech, use 「できる」 for 'can do'.
- Antonym出来ないNeutralThe negative of 「できる」: cannot do something, are not good at it, or it has not been completed, as in 「まだ準備ができない」.
Default to 「できる」 for being able to do, knowing how, or getting something done. In written prose about possibility or feasibility use 「可能」, and use 「有能」 to describe a capable person; 「出来ない」 is simply the negative.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


