JLPT N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “ある” and “いる”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “ある” and “いる”
2. ある
3. いる
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: Why is “ある” used for plants? And for fish as food, is “ある” or “いる” correct?
A: In principle, “いる” is used for living beings that move by their own will, while “ある” is used for inanimate things. Plants and fish for eating are living things, but since they do not move on their own, “ある” is used. However, when fish are alive and swimming, “いる” is used. In this article, we will explain these distinctions in detail with concrete examples.
ある (JLPT N5)
For inanimate things and plants that have no will, “ある” is used.
Although plants are living organisms, they do not move by their own will, so the correct expression is to use “ある” rather than “いる.”
[Examples]
冷蔵庫にたまごや牛乳があります。
There are eggs and milk in the refrigerator.
部屋にパソコンがあります。
There is a computer in the room.
庭に木や花があります。
There are trees and flowers in the garden.
いる (JLPT N5)
For living beings such as people and animals that move by their own will, “いる” is used.
[Examples]
教室に学生がいます。
There are students in the classroom.
この会社にはインド人やタイ人がいます。
There are Indian and Thai people in this company.
公園にたくさんのねこがいます。
There are many cats in the park.
川に魚がいます。
There are fish in the river.
Let’s Compare
Plants are treated as “inanimate,” so we use “ある” for them.
But what about fish? In fact, whether to use “いる” or “ある” depends on the situation.
[Examples]
① 川に小さい魚がたくさん（ある・いる）。
② 冷蔵庫に焼いた魚が（ある・いる）。
The correct answers are ① “いる” and ② “ある.”
① The fish are alive and swimming, so “いる” is used.
② The fish are cooked and no longer move—treated as inanimate—so “ある” is used.
Now, how about the following case?
[Examples]
① 見て、あそこにロボットがあるよ。
② 見て、あそこにロボットがいるよ。
In this case, both “ある” and “いる” can be used, depending on how the robot is perceived.
If the robot looks human or moves as if it has its own will, “いる” is often used. For example, robots in anime are usually treated like humans, so “いる” feels natural.
On the other hand, if the robot only moves mechanically and does not appear human-like, “ある” is more commonly used.
[Examples]
〇 あそこに人間みたいなロボットがいるよ。
△ あそこに人間みたいなロボットがあるよ。
Summary
[ある]
- Used for inanimate objects and plants that do not have will.
[いる]
- Used for living beings such as people and animals that move on their own will.
[Distinguishing between “ある” and “いる”]
- Flowers are living things, but since they do not move on their own, “ある” is used.
- Fish take “いる” when alive, but “ある” when they are food.
- Robots take “ある” if they only move mechanically, but “いる” is often used if they look or act like humans.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. あります
このスーパーには新鮮な魚があります。
There are fresh fish in this supermarket.
*Since the fish sold in the supermarket are treated as food, the correct choice is “ある.”
A.あります
あの公園にはきれいな花がたくさんあります。
There are many beautiful flowers in that park.
*Flowers are plants and do not move on their own, so the correct choice is “ある.”
A. いる
池に大きい魚がいるよ。
There are big fish in the pond.
*Because the fish are alive and swimming, the correct choice is “いる.”
A.あります
この森にはめずらしい植物があります。
There are rare plants in this forest.
*Plants are living things, but since they have no will and do not move, the correct choice is “ある.”
Similer Articles
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