JLPT N5 Existence Verbs: Arimasu & Imasu (There is/are)

(1) Arimasu - For Non-Living Things

Use "arimasu" for non-living objects like glasses (megane) or books at a location.

Example: うちに めがねが あります。Uchi ni megane ga arimasu. (There are glasses at home.)

(2) Imasu - For Living Things

Use "imasu" for people or animals like dogs (inu).

Example: うちに いぬが います。Uchi ni inu ga imasu. (There is a dog at home.)

(3) Topic Marker "Wa" Explanation

Switch to "wa" for explanations:

めがねは うちに あります。Megane wa uchi ni arimasu. (The glasses are at home.)

いぬは うちに います。Inu wa uchi ni imasu. (The dog is at home.)

Updated Jan 2026 - JLPT N5 Arimasu/Imasu mastery enhanced with
Ga vs Wa particle tips