Tsukuru(つくる) -“to make” or “to create” / Japanese Word

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Last updated: June 29, 2026

Tsukuru conjugation chart for the Japanese verb 作る (to make)

January 2023 (VOL.183)

Tsukuru つくる

Tsukuru means “to make” or “to create”

In Japanese, tsukuru is written 作る, a JLPT N5 verb. This tsukuru conjugation guide covers all 13 forms, from “tsukuranai” to “tsukurimashita.”

Sora

Ke-ki wo tsukutta koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you ever made (bake) a cake?

Kotone

Hai. Arimasu.

Yes, I have.

Kyonen ookina ke-ki wo tsukuri masita.

I made a big cake last year.

Sora

Hontou desuka?

Really?

Tanjoubi ke-ki wo tsukuru yotei desu.

I’m going to make a birthday cake.

Tetsudatte kureru?

Can you help me?

Kotone

Iiyo! Watashi mo ke-ki wo tsukuritai!

Yeah, I want to make cakes, too!

Sora

Arigatou!

Thank you!

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to maketo make (Polite)mademade (Polite)is makingwas makingcan makewant to makelet’s makehave made (Present Progressive)had made (Past Progressive)make it!please make
Positivetsukurutsukuri masutsukuttatsukuri mashitatsukutte irutsukutte itatsukurerutsukuritaitsukuroutsukutta koto ga arutsukutta koto ga attatsukure!tsukutte kudasai
Negativetsukuranaitsukuri masentsukuranakattatsukurimasen deshitatsukutte inaitsukutte inakattatsukurenaitsukuritakunaitsukutta koto ga naitsukutta koto ga nakattatsukuruna!tsukuranaide kudasai
tsukurimasu example: making a paper crane with origami

Origami de tsuru wo tsukuri masu

I make a crane with origami.

tsukutte iru example: he is making rice balls

Onigiri wo tsukutte iru

He’s making rice balls.

tsukurenai example: I can't make a dog house

Watashi wa inu no
ie wo tsukurenai

I can’t make dog house.

tsukutta example: cooking a meal for the first time

Ken wa gohan wo tsukutta koto ganakatta ga kyou
hajimete tsukutta.

I had never made a meal,
but I made for the first
time today.

tsukutte inai example: I have not made dinner yet

Yorugohan wo mada tsukutte inai.

I have not made dinner yet.

tsukurou example: let's make cookies

Kukki~ wo tsukuro~!

Let’s make cookies!

tsukurimasen example: not making osechi this year

Kotoshi wa Osechi
ryori wo tsukuri masen.

I don’t make Osechi
New Year meal this year.

tsukure example: make it quickly (imperative)

Isoide tsukure!

Make it quickly!

tsukutta koto ga nai example: I have never made a robot

Make it quickly! tsukutta koto ga nai.

I have never made a robot.

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