N5Chapter 13

Existence Verbs: あります & います

Learning objectives

  • Understand the difference between animate existence (いる) and inanimate existence (ある).
  • State that something exists or that you have something using the particle が.
  • Describe the location of an object or person using the particle に.
  • Explore the aesthetic of 'Wabi-sabi' in Japanese spaces.
N5 context

In English, we say “There is a dog” and “There is a book.” The verb “is” remains exactly the same whether the subject is alive or an inanimate object. Japanese, however, draws a very strict line between the living and the non-living. There are two completely different verbs used to express existence (“There is…” / “I have…”). The verb you choose depends entirely on whether the subject can move on its own!

Anime pixel-art illustration of living things with います and objects with あります in a calm Japanese room.

1. Inanimate Existence: ある (Aru)

The verb ある (aru) is used for anything that is inanimate (not alive) or things that are alive but cannot move on their own (like plants and trees). It is a Group 1 verb. Its polite form is あります (arimasu).

Grammar文法
[Noun] が あります

means There is a [Noun]. / I have a [Noun].

Formation

Inanimate Noun + が + あります

Examples

ほん が あります。

Hon ga arimasu.

There is a book. (Or: I have a book.)

じかん が あります。

Jikan ga arimasu.

There is time. / I have time.

ホテル に プール が あります。

Hoteru ni puuru ga arimasu.

There is a pool at the hotel.

くるま が あります。

Kuruma ga arimasu.

There is a car.

きょう、 テスト が あります。

Kyou, tesuto ga arimasu.

There is a test today.

こうえん に き が あります。

Kouen ni ki ga arimasu.

There is a tree in the park.

2. Animate Existence: いる (Iru)

The verb いる (iru) is used for people, animals, and insects—anything that is alive and can move of its own volition. It is a Group 2 verb. Its polite form is います (imasu).

Grammar文法
[Noun] が います

means There is a [Person/Animal]. / I have a [Person/Animal].

Formation

Animate Noun + が + います

Examples

ねこ が います。

Neko ga imasu.

There is a cat. (Or: I have a cat.)

あそこ に たなかさん が います。

Asoko ni Tanaka-san ga imasu.

Mr. Tanaka is over there.

へや に いぬ が います。

Heya ni inu ga imasu.

There is a dog in the room.

きょうだい が います。

Kyoudai ga imasu.

I have siblings.

あそこに だれ が います か。

Asoko ni dare ga imasu ka.

Who is over there?

ともだち が たくさん います。

Tomodachi ga takusan imasu.

I have many friends.

ある or いる? Pick by 'can it move on its own?'

The choice is not “alive vs. not alive” — it’s self-movement:

  • いる → people, animals, insects (things that move on their own). 犬がいます.
  • ある → objects, and plants/trees (alive, but they don’t move). 木があります, not 木がいます.
  • Both take が for the thing that exists, and the negatives are ありません / いません (never あらない).

A common trap: a parked car uses ある (車があります) — but talk about the driver inside and you switch to いる.

3. Describing Location with “に”

To say where something exists, you place the location word before the particle に (ni).

Grammar文法
[Location] に [Noun] が あります/います

means [Noun] is in/at [Location].

Formation

Location + に + Noun + が + Verb

Examples

としょかん に ほん が あります。

Toshokan ni hon ga arimasu.

There are books in the library.

こうえん に ねこ が います。

Kouen ni neko ga imasu.

There is a cat in the park.

つくえ の うえ に ペン が あります。

Tsukue no ue ni pen ga arimasu.

There is a pen on top of the desk.

はこ の なか に なに が あります か。

Hako no naka ni nani ga arimasu ka.

What is inside the box?

ぎんこう の まえ に くるま が あります。

Ginkou no mae ni kuruma ga arimasu.

There is a car in front of the bank.

ベッド の した に いぬ が います。

Beddo no shita ni inu ga imasu.

The dog is under the bed.

4. Cultural Note: The Aesthetic of ‘Wabi-sabi’ (わびさび)

Wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. It is often described as beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.”

  • In Space: A room designed with Wabi-sabi principles might feel empty or “lonely” to a Western eye, but this emptiness (related to ‘Ma’) is intended to foster focus and peace.
  • In Existence: The verbs aru and iru help define the existence of things within these spaces. Whether it’s a cracked tea bowl (aru) or the moss growing on a stone (aru), Wabi-sabi finds dignity in the natural cycle of life and decay.
  • Characteristics: Asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.

Conversation Practice

Anime pixel-art illustration of existence verb practice with a person, dog, car, bag objects, and います and あります cards.
Looking for a Friend会話
Alice

すみません、 たなかさん は どこ に います か。

Sumimasen, Tanaka-san wa doko ni imasu ka?

Excuse me, where is Mr. Tanaka?

Staff

たなかさん は あそこ に います よ。 あおい くるま の まえ です。

Tanaka-san wa asoko ni imasu yo. Aoi kuruma no mae desu.

Mr. Tanaka is over there. In front of the blue car.

Alice

あ、 わかりました。 ありがとうございます。

A, wakarimashita. Arigatou gozaimasu.

Ah, I see. Thank you very much.

Staff

いいえ。 あ、 たなかさん の となり に いぬ も います よ。

Iie. A, Tanaka-san no tonari ni inu mo imasu yo.

No problem. Oh, there's also a dog next to Mr. Tanaka.
What's in the Bag?会話
Ken

その かばん の なか に なに が あります か。

Sono kaban no naka ni nani ga arimasu ka?

What is inside that bag (near you)?

Yumi

ほん と さいふ が あります。 それから、 スマホ も あります。

Hon to saifu ga arimasu. Sorekara, sumaho mo arimasu.

There's a book and a wallet. And also a smartphone.

Ken

おべんとう は ありません か。

Obentou wa arimasen ka?

Is there no lunch box?

Yumi

はい、 ありません。 レストラン で たべます。

Hai, arimasen. Resutoran de tabemasu.

Yes, there isn't. I'll eat at a restaurant.

Chapter Summary

Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1ある (arimasu) is used for inanimate objects, plants, and abstract concepts.
  • 2いる (imasu) is used for living, moving things like people and animals.
  • 3Use the particle が (ga) to mark the subject that exists.
  • 4Use the particle に (ni) to mark the location of existence.
  • 5Position words like うえ, した, and なか specify where an object is located.
  • 6Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and existence.

Knowledge Check

Test your understanding of existence and location!

Practice quiz
1 / 15

Which verb do you use for 'There is a person'?

Applied review

Use what you learned

Focus: Existence ある and いる. Try the task before revealing the model.

Guided practice練習

Produce the Japanese sentence, then compare it with the model answer.

  1. 1.Say “There is a cat under the chair.”

Reading practice読解

Existence ある and いる in context

N5 mini-reading

Target: 1 minute
机の 上に 本が あります。机の 下に 犬が います。
  1. Which item is inanimate?