Meaning

Primary

To Have

Alternative

To Exist

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means have and so the verb version means to have. An alternative meaning is to exist, though this refers only to non-living inanimate things, not moving and living things.

The kanji isn't used too often for this word, so just use the kana when you write it. But you'll see the kanji used sometimes, so it's important to be able to recognize it!

Reading

ある
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

To have something is very nice. But now, the only thing you possess are screams. Imagine this. You are in a totally empty room with no possessions. You open a little box and look inside. It contains screams that yell: "AAAAHHHH" ().

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • お金が有る

    to have money

    ニーズが有る

    to have a need, there is a need

    車が有る

    to have a car

Context Sentences

マヨネーズなら、まだ少し有る。

We still have a little mayonnaise.

大学入学のためのお金は有りますか?

Do you have money for university enrollment?

今は車が一台しか有りません。

Right now we only have one car.

Kanji Composition