Tabemasu

Tabemasu is the polite non-past form of the Japanese verb taberu, meaning to eat. It is used in formal or respectful contexts, such as conversations with strangers, customers, or in professional settings. The plain dictionary form is taberu, and tabemasu represents the same action in a courteous register. The verb is categorized as an ichidan (ru-verb), with the stem tabem- that combines with polite endings.

Conjugation and related forms include tabemasu (present/future polite), tabemasen (present negative polite), tabemashita (past polite), and tabemasen deshita (past negative polite). The te-form is tabete, used to connect clauses or form requests, as in tabete kudasai (please eat). The volitional form is tabemashou (let’s eat). Other common forms include taberu’s negative casual tabenai and past casual tabeta for informal speech.

Usage notes include the typical placement of tabemasu within sentences with particles, such as Watashi wa gohan o tabemasu (I will eat a meal / I eat meals). Tabemasu can express habitual action or a planned future action depending on context. In everyday life, it often appears with adverbs indicating time, such as kinyōbi ni tabemasu (I will eat on Friday).

Kanji and reading: 食べます is the common kanji presentation, with 食べる being the basic verb and たべます in kana. The pronunciation is tabemasu, with the stem tabem-. Tabemasu is frequently used in polite conversation and service contexts.