い-Stem
Meaning
The い-stem (also called the masu-stem or conjunctive form) is used to build polite verb forms and compound expressions.
It’s commonly seen in ます-form, as well as in compound verbs (like 勉強し始める) and some noun-like verb forms.
How to Form
| Verb Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ichidan (る) | Remove る → use the remaining stem | 食べる → 食べ |
| Godan (う) | Change the final う-sound to its い-row counterpart | 飲む → 飲み 書く → 書き 話す → 話し |
| Irregular | する → し 来る → 来（き） |
勉強する → 勉強し 来る → 来（き） |
Godan い-Stem Conversion Chart
| Ending | い-Stem |
|---|---|
| う | い |
| く | き |
| ぐ | ぎ |
| す | し |
| つ | ち |
| ぬ | に |
| ぶ | び |
| む | み |
| る | り |
Examples:
- 書く → 書き
- 話す → 話し
- 読む → 読み
- 死ぬ → 死に
- 会う → 会い
Notes
- Also called the masu-stem because it’s used to form ～ます.
- Allows verbs to combine with other verbs or nouns, turning actions into compound ideas.
- Functions like a "connector" form in many grammatical constructions.
Learning the い-stem gives you access to polite speech, compound expressions, and smoother fluency.