When you're learning Japanese, you'll often want to talk about remembering things. The word for that is おぼえる (oboeru).
You can use it when you learn new vocabulary words and want to say you've memorized them. It's also used for remembering faces or names.
Think of it as the verb for putting something into your memory and being able to recall it later. It's a really useful word to know!
When you're learning Japanese, you'll often want to talk about remembering things. The verb for 'to remember' or 'to memorize' is おぼえる (oboeru).
This is a really useful verb, whether you're talking about remembering a person's name, memorizing new vocabulary, or recalling an event.
It's a straightforward verb to use, and you'll find yourself using it a lot as you progress in your studies.
Just like in English, you can use it for both the act of recalling something and the act of committing something to memory.
§ What does おぼえる (oboeru) mean?
The Japanese verb おぼえる (oboeru) means 'to remember' or 'to memorize'. It's a crucial verb for anyone learning Japanese, as it covers a wide range of situations where you retain information in your mind. Think of it as the go-to word when you want to express that something has stuck with you, or that you are actively trying to commit something to memory.
- DEFINITION
- To remember; to memorize.
You'll use おぼえる when you talk about remembering facts, names, faces, or even skills. It implies a conscious effort to learn and retain something. For example, if you're trying to learn new kanji, you would say you are おぼえるing them. If you meet someone new and want to remember their name, you would use おぼえる. It's not just about recalling something that happened naturally, but about the act of making something part of your mental storage.
§ When do people use おぼえる?
People use おぼえる in various everyday contexts. Here are some common scenarios:
- Learning and Studying: This is probably the most frequent use. When you're learning a new language, studying for an exam, or trying to grasp a new skill, you are actively trying to おぼえる the information.
- Recalling Information: If you've learned something in the past and are now recalling it, おぼえる can be used. For instance, remembering a phone number or a date.
- Recognizing People or Things: When you recognize someone you've met before, or an object you've seen, you can use おぼえる to express that you remember them.
- Making a Conscious Effort to Keep in Mind: Sometimes, you need to deliberately commit something to memory, like a set of instructions or a recipe.
Let's look at some examples to make this clearer:
この漢字を覚えるのは難しいです。
(Kono kanji o oboeru no wa muzukashii desu.)
It's difficult to memorize this kanji.
彼の名前を覚えていますか？
(Kare no namae o oboete imasu ka?)
Do you remember his name?
私はその歌の歌詞を覚えました。
(Watashi wa sono uta no kashi o oboemashita.)
I memorized the lyrics to that song.
Understanding おぼえる is fundamental for expressing a wide range of actions related to memory and learning in Japanese. It's an active verb that shows a deliberate effort to hold information in your mind. Keep practicing with examples, and soon you'll be using おぼえる naturally in your conversations.
Let's learn how to use the Japanese verb “おぼえる” (oboeru). This word is super useful, so pay close attention. It means “to remember” or “to memorize.” You'll hear it a lot in daily conversation, especially when people talk about learning or recalling information.
§ Basic Usage of おぼえる
おぼえる is a transitive verb, which means it needs a direct object. This object is usually marked with the particle を (o). So, you'll often see the structure: [thing to remember] を おぼえる.
私は新しい言葉をおぼえました (Watashi wa atarashii kotoba o oboemashita).
- Hint
- I remembered a new word.
彼は彼女の誕生日をおぼえています (Kare wa kanojo no tanjoubi o oboete imasu).
- Hint
- He remembers her birthday.
§ おぼえる for Skills and Habits
おぼえる isn't just for facts. You can also use it when you learn a skill or habit. In these cases, it means “to master” or “to acquire.”
私は料理をおぼえたい (Watashi wa ryouri o oboetai).
- Hint
- I want to learn cooking.
彼は自転車に乗ることをおぼえました (Kare wa jitensha ni noru koto o oboemashita).
- Hint
- He learned how to ride a bicycle.
§ Negative Forms: おぼえない and おぼえていない
When you want to say “don't remember” or “can't memorize,” you'll use the negative form. For おぼえる, the plain negative is おぼえない (oboenai).
私はその名前をおぼえない (Watashi wa sono namae o oboenai).
- Hint
- I don't remember that name.
If you want to express a state of not remembering, use the -te form followed by いない (inai): おぼえていない (oboete inai).
その電話番号をおぼえていません (Sono denwa bangou o oboete imasen).
- Hint
- I don't remember that phone number.
§ Distinguishing おぼえる from 覚えている (Oboete iru)
This is where it can get a little tricky, but it's important. While おぼえる means “to memorize” (the action), 覚えている (oboete iru) means “to be remembering” or “to have remembered” (the state of having something in your memory).
- Action
- He is memorizing the new kanji. (新しい漢字をおぼえている.)
- State
- He remembers the new kanji. (新しい漢字を覚えている.)
§ Common Phrases with おぼえる
Here are some useful phrases to help you use おぼえる naturally:
- おぼえておく (oboete oku): To remember for future reference.
- Hint
- Please remember this (for later).
- おぼえるのが難しい (oboeru no ga muzukashii): It's difficult to remember.
- Hint
- It's difficult to remember new words.
これをおぼえておいて (Kore o oboete oite).
新しい言葉をおぼえるのが難しい (Atarashii kotoba o oboeru no ga muzukashii).
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'o' too long at the beginning.
Difficulty Rating
Short and common hiragana verb.
Short and common hiragana verb.
Frequent usage in daily conversation.
Commonly heard.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
When expressing that one 'remembers' or 'memorizes' something, use the direct object particle を (o) with the noun being remembered/memorized. The verb おぼえる (oboeru) is a transitive verb.
新しい言葉を覚えるのは楽しいです。(Atarashii kotoba o oboeru no wa tanoshii desu.) - Remembering new words is fun.
To ask someone if they 'remember' something, you can use 〜を覚えていますか？ (o oboete imasu ka?). This uses the 〜ています (~te imasu) form to indicate a continuing state of remembering.
私の名前を覚えていますか？ (Watashi no namae o oboete imasu ka?) - Do you remember my name?
When you want to say you 'will remember' something, you use the plain form 覚える (oboeru) or the polite form 覚えます (oboemasu).
この経験を一生忘れません、そして覚えます。(Kono keiken o isshō wasuremasen, soshite oboemasu.) - I will never forget this experience, and I will remember it.
To express 'I have memorized' or 'I have remembered' something, use the 〜てあります (~te arimasu) form or 〜ておく (~te oku) for a planned action of remembering.
電話番号を覚えてあります。(Denwa bangō o oboete arimasu.) - I have memorized the phone number.
You can also use おぼえる (oboeru) in a more indirect way to mean 'to learn by heart' or 'to master' a skill, often in conjunction with a skill or task.
運転の仕方を覚えました。(Unten no shikata o oboemashita.) - I learned how to drive (by heart/mastered driving).
Examples by Level
日本語を覚えます。
I remember Japanese.
Simple present tense.
名前を覚えました。
I remembered the name.
Past tense, polite form.
新しい単語を覚えたいです。
I want to remember new words.
Use of -tai (want to do).
この歌を覚えています。
I remember this song.
Te-iru form for continuous state.
電話番号を覚えていません。
I don't remember the phone number.
Negative te-iru form.
顔を覚えていますか？
Do you remember the face?
Question form of te-iru.
毎日、漢字を覚えます。
Every day, I memorize Kanji.
Indicates a regular action.
覚えるのが難しいです。
It is difficult to remember.
Using 'no' to nominalize the verb.
その詩を暗記することは、私にとってかなりの挑戦でした。
Memorizing that poem was quite a challenge for me.
暗記する (anki suru) - to memorize by heart; indicates a more strenuous act of memorization.
彼女は一度読んだだけで、新しい情報をすぐに覚えることができる。
She can immediately remember new information just by reading it once.
覚えることができる (oboeru koto ga dekiru) - can remember/memorize; emphasizes ability.
子供の頃に覚えた歌は、今でも歌詞を正確に思い出せる。
I can still accurately recall the lyrics of songs I learned as a child.
子供の頃に覚えた歌 (kodomo no koro ni oboeta uta) - songs learned in childhood; 'oboeta' here implies learning and retaining.
残念ながら、彼の名前をどうしても思い出せない。
Unfortunately, I just can't remember his name no matter how hard I try.
どうしても思い出せない (dōshite mo omoidasenai) - can't remember no matter what; 'omoidasu' is to recall, 'oboeru' is to learn/memorize.
新しい単語を覚えるために、毎日フラッシュカードを使っている。
I use flashcards every day to memorize new vocabulary.
単語を覚える (tango o oboeru) - to memorize vocabulary; direct and common usage.
試験のために、歴史の年号を全て覚えなければならない。
I have to memorize all the historical dates for the exam.
覚えなければならない (oboenakereba naranai) - must memorize; expresses obligation.
彼は一度見た顔は決して忘れないと自慢している。
He boasts that he never forgets a face he's seen once.
忘れない (wasurenai) - not forget; the opposite of remembering/memorizing.
この複雑な手順を覚えるには、かなりの練習が必要だろう。
It will probably take a lot of practice to remember this complex procedure.
手順を覚える (tejun o oboeru) - to memorize a procedure/steps; often involves practical learning.
How to Use It
覚える (おぼえる - oboeru) is a versatile verb. It's most commonly used to talk about committing information to memory, like remembering someone's name or memorizing a phone number. You can also use it for learning or acquiring a skill, especially when it involves memorization, like learning new vocabulary or remembering how to ride a bicycle. It implies an active effort to retain information.
A common mistake is confusing 覚える (おぼえる - oboeru) with 思い出す (おもいだす - omoidasu). While both relate to memory, 覚える is about the act of putting something into your memory, or having something in your memory. 思い出す, on the other hand, is about the act of retrieving information that is already in your memory, or recalling something. Think of 覚える as 'to learn and retain' and 思い出す as 'to recall'.
Test Yourself 42 questions
私は新しい単語を___。
The sentence means 'I remember new words.' The plain form 'おぼえる' fits here to express a general action.
昨日、電話番号を___。
The sentence means 'Yesterday, I memorized the phone number.' The past tense 'おぼえました' is needed because '昨日' (yesterday) indicates a past action.
この歌を___のは難しいです。
The sentence means 'It's difficult to remember this song.' The plain form 'おぼえる' is used before 'のは難しいです' (it's difficult to...).
彼女は人の顔を___のが得意です。
The sentence means 'She is good at remembering people's faces.' Similar to the previous exercise, the plain form 'おぼえる' is used before 'のが得意です' (is good at...).
漢字を___には時間がかかります。
The sentence means 'It takes time to memorize Kanji.' The plain form 'おぼえる' is used before 'には時間がかかります' (it takes time to...).
子どもの時、たくさんの歌を___。
The sentence means 'When I was a child, I memorized many songs.' '子どもの時' (when I was a child) indicates a past event, so the past tense 'おぼえました' is correct.
Were you able to recall yesterday's events?
I quickly memorized the lyrics of this song.
I'm not good at remembering new vocabulary.
Read this aloud:
電話番号を覚えるのが得意です。
Focus: おぼえる (oboeru)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
彼の名前を覚えるのに時間がかかりました。
Focus: おぼえる (oboeru)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供の頃の思い出を覚えています。
Focus: おぼえる (oboeru)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
複雑な漢字の書き方をしっかり___必要があります。
この文脈では、漢字の書き方を「記憶する」という意味の「覚える」が適切です。
新しい単語を効果的に___には、繰り返し使うことが大切です。
「新しい単語を記憶する」という意味で「覚える」が正解です。
試験のために、歴史の年号を全て___のは大変な作業です。
「試験のために記憶しておく」というニュアンスなので、「覚えておく」が自然です。
子供の頃の思い出は、今でも鮮明に___います。
「思い出を記憶している」という意味で「覚えている」が適切です。
電話番号を___ことができず、困っています。
「電話番号を記憶できない」という意味で、「覚えられない」が正解です。
会議の内容を___ために、メモを取ることにしました。
「会議の内容を記憶するため」という目的を表す「覚えるように」が適切です。
先週習った漢字を___必要があります。
文脈から、先週習った漢字を「覚える」（思い出す、記憶する）必要がある、という意味になります。他の選択肢は文脈に合いません。
彼の名前がなかなか___ことができません。
「なかなか〜ない」は「なかなか〜できない」という意味合いで使われます。彼の名前を「覚える」ことが難しい、という状況なので「覚えられない」が適切です。
子供の頃の思い出を___います。
「覚えている」は「記憶している」という意味です。子供の頃の思い出を記憶している、という文脈なので「覚えています」が正解です。
新しい単語は、一度聞いただけでは覚えるのが難しい。
一般的に、新しい単語を一度聞いただけで完璧に覚えるのは難しいです。繰り返し学習することが重要です。
「おぼえる」は、電話番号を記憶するという意味では使えない。
「おぼえる」は、電話番号を記憶する、という意味でも非常によく使われます。
試験前に一夜漬けで勉強すれば、全てを覚えられる。
一夜漬けで一時的に記憶することはできても、長期的に全てを覚えるのは難しい場合が多いです。理解と定着には継続的な学習が必要です。
複雑な理論を___のは時間がかかる。
「覚える」は「記憶する」という意味で、理論を記憶するには時間がかかるという文脈に合致します。
彼女は新しいダンスの振り付けをすぐに___。
「覚える」の過去形「覚えた」が、振り付けを記憶したという文脈に適切です。
重要な日付を___ために、カレンダーにメモした。
日付を記憶するためにメモしたという文脈なので、「覚える」が正解です。
「あの顔、どこかで覚えたことがある」は、過去にその顔を見たことがあるという意味である。
この文脈での「覚える」は、過去に記憶した経験があることを示します。
「ルールを覚える」という表現は、ルールを理解することを意味する。
ルールを記憶し、理解するという意味合いで使われます。
試験のために教科書の内容を「覚える」ことは、ただ読むことと同じ意味である。
「覚える」は記憶して再現できる状態にするという意味で、ただ読むだけとは異なります。
This sentence means 'It takes time to remember new information.' The order follows a typical Japanese sentence structure: topic (新しい情報 - new information), particle (を), verb (覚えるのは - to remember), subject (時間が - time), and verb (かかります - takes).
This sentence translates to 'I practice every day to remember difficult kanji.' The structure starts with the purpose clause (難しい漢字を覚えるために - in order to remember difficult kanji) followed by the action (毎日練習しています - I practice every day).
This means 'Once I remember it, I'll never forget it.' It follows a conditional clause (一度覚えたら - if I remember once) followed by the consequence (決して忘れません - I will never forget).
The speaker struggled to remember a poem.
Someone finds joy in learning new vocabulary.
She remembered his face well.
Read this aloud:
昨日覚えた漢字が思い出せません。
Focus: 思い出す (omoideasu)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
この歌を覚えるのは難しいですか？
Focus: 覚える (oboeru)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
私はすぐに人々の名前を覚えることができます。
Focus: 覚える (oboeru)
You said:
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/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
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This Word in Other Languages
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More education words
欠席する
A2To be absent.
抽象的
A1Describes something that is based on general ideas or concepts rather than specific physical objects or examples. It is often used to talk about thoughts, art, or explanations that are not easy to see or touch.
後天的
B2Refers to qualities, skills, or traits acquired through experience, learning, or environmental influence after birth.
応用
A1The act of applying a principle, theory, or knowledge to a practical situation or a different context. It is commonly used in education and science to describe moving from basic concepts to complex, real-world problems.
適性
B2A natural ability or suitability for a specific role, task, or academic path. It refers to the fitness of an individual's character or skills to a certain environment.
恣意的
B2Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. Often used in academic writing to criticize research methods or data selection.
出席する
A2To attend.
ボールペン
A2ballpoint pen
基本
A1Kihon refers to the fundamentals or basics of a subject, skill, or system. it describes the essential foundation that one must master before advancing to more complex levels.
有益
B2Being useful, beneficial, or profitable. It describes something that brings a positive effect or helps in achieving a goal.
