If you’re studying Japanese, you’ll soon encounter two verbs that both translate as “to exist”: あります and います.
They often appear side by side in textbooks and both get translated as “there is / there are,” but they are not interchangeable. Once you learn the pattern, your Japanese will instantly sound more natural.
Let’s break it down clearly.
The Core Rule
Japanese uses two different existence verbs depending on whether something is living or not:
- あります → for non-living things
- います → for living things (things that can move on their own)
That’s the main rule. Everything else follows from it.
When to Use あります (Non-Living Things)
あります is used for things that are not alive.
This includes:
- Objects (books, phones, keys)
- Places / locations (parks, stations, stores)
- Buildings (schools, hospitals)
- Ideas / abstract things (plans, problems, chances)
- Events (meetings, festivals)
- Plants (more on this below)
Examples (あります)
本があります。
There is a book.
コンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store.
時間がありますか。
Do you have time? (literally: “Is there time?”)
問題があります。
There is a problem.
Even abstract concepts like problems, plans, and opportunities commonly use あります.
When to Use います (Living Things)
います is used for living creatures—especially things that move on their own.
This includes:
- People
- Animals
- Birds / fish
- Insects
Examples (います)
人がいます。
There is a person.
猫がいます。
There is a cat.
先生は教室にいます。
The teacher is in the classroom.
If it’s living and can move by itself, います is the natural choice.
The Tricky Part: Plants
Many learners wonder:
“Plants are living… so why do they use あります?”
In Japanese, plants are grammatically grouped with things that do not move around on their own (they don’t walk or travel), so they typically use あります, not います.
Examples (Plants + あります)
木があります。
There is a tree.
花があります。
There are flowers.
Even though plants are alive, they are usually treated like “non-moving things” in grammar, so あります is standard.
Location vs. Existence
Both あります and います can describe not only existence (“there is…”) but also where something is.
The structure is very similar—the verb depends only on whether the thing is living.
Examples (Location)
駅はここにあります。
The station is here.
友だちは家にいます。
My friend is at home.
Same grammar pattern. Different verb. Living thing → います. Non-living thing → あります.
Negative Forms (ありません vs いません)
The negative form follows the same rule:
- ありません → not there / does not exist (non-living)
- いません → not there (living)
Examples (Negative)
お金がありません。
I don’t have money. / There is no money.
ここに人がいません。
There isn’t anyone here.
Quick Comparison
| Situation | Correct Verb |
|---|---|
| A book | あります |
| A dog | います |
| A school | あります |
| A child | います |
| A tree | あります |
| A teacher | います |
Common Beginner Mistake
A very common mistake is using あります for people or animals.
❌ 人があります。
✔ 人がいます。
It should never be あります if the thing is a human or an animal.
Likewise, if it’s an object or place, don’t use います.
❌ コンビニがいます。
✔ コンビニがあります。
People will still understand you, but it will sound clearly unnatural.
Final Tip
When choosing between あります and います, don’t think in English. Ask one simple question:
Is it living and able to move on its own?
Yes → います
No → あります
Once you get used to that, picking the correct verb becomes automatic.
