教えます（おしえます、oshiemasu）
- to teach

The Japanese verb 教えます means "to teach," "to tell," "to inform," or "to show." It generally implies the act of imparting knowledge, providing instructions, or giving information to someone. The focus is on the action of teaching or conveying something.

⚫︎日本語を教えます。 Translation: I teach Japanese. ⚫︎彼に住所を教えます。 Translation: I will tell him the address. ⚫︎道順を教えます。 Translation: I will show you the way.

⚫︎教えます is used when you are the one performing the action of teaching, telling, or showing. ⚫︎It typically takes a direct object that is what is being taught, told, or shown. For example, the subject matter, information, or route. ⚫︎The person receiving the information is often marked with the particle に (ni), or へ (e) if referring to direction, but the "recipient" can be omitted if it is understood from the context. ⚫︎The subject is usually omitted if it is clear from the context. ⚫︎It is a versatile verb applicable in various situations, from formal to informal contexts.

⚫︎The base form of the verb is 教える (おしえる - oshieru). ⚫︎The polite form, 教えます (おしえます - oshiemasu), is frequently used in daily conversation. ⚫︎The kanji is 教 (kyou), meaning "teach" or "religion," and える is the verb ending. ⚫︎Other forms include: ⚫︎教え (oshie) - the stem of the verb, used to form other words. ⚫︎教えた (oshieta) - past tense. ⚫︎教えて (oshiete) - the te-form, used for linking clauses or creating requests (e.g., 教えてください (oshiete kudasai) - "Please tell me."). ⚫︎教えたい (oshietai) - "want to teach/tell" ⚫︎教えます (oshiemasu) - polite present/future form of teach. ⚫︎教えて (oshiete) - the te-form of teach. ⚫︎教えない (oshinai) - negative present/future form of teach. ⚫︎教える (oshieru) - dictionary form of teach. ⚫︎教えた (oshieta) - past tense of teach.

⚫︎伝える (つたえる - tsutaeru): To convey, to communicate, to tell. This can be used as a synonym for "to tell," but the emphasis is more on communication. ⚫︎説明する (せつめいする - setsumei suru): To explain. ⚫︎示す (しめす - shimesu): To show, to indicate, to demonstrate. This often implies showing by example or by demonstration. ⚫︎指南する (しなんする - shinan suru): To guide (more formal).

⚫︎学ぶ (まなぶ - manabu): To learn. (Opposite action - receiving knowledge). ⚫︎習う (ならう - narau): To learn, to take lessons. (receiving knowledge)

先生は私に数学を教えます。 ・Translation: The teacher teaches me mathematics. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the basic usage of 教えます, with the subject being the teacher and the object being mathematics, and the recipient is marked with に (ni) (私に - to me).

すみません、道がわからないので、教えてもらえませんか。 ・Translation: Excuse me, I don't know the way, could you tell me? ・Explanation: This sentence utilizes the te-form of 教えます (教えて - oshiete) in a request (てもらえませんか - te morae masen ka). It's a common phrase used when asking for directions.

The verb 教える (oshieru) is formed from the kanji 教 (kyou), which originally meant "to teach" or "to instruct," and the verb ending える. The kanji 教 is composed of two parts: the left side means "elderly" or "old", and the right side means "child". This suggest the meaning of an elder teaching a child.