いる
いる
hepburn iru
to exist (animate)
Part of speech · ichidan-verb
Pattern visualization
no decomposition available
Examples
- 猫がいます。There is a cat.
- 友達はどこにいますか。Where is my friend?
Collocations
いる (iru, exist-animate)人がいる猫がいるいない (inai)いてもいい
Mnemonic
Iru-be (いる) is "exist (animate)" — B + no-cluster ichidan existence verb. Pairs with aru (inanimate / static): (1) iru-be for people, animals, insects, moving things; (2) aru for objects, plants, facilities, abstracts. Japan core animate / inanimate split. Korean itda single, Chinese zai / you (location / possession); Japans animate split unique.
Quick check
Iru-be vs aru?