The biggest Japanese verb ＜aru＞

The Japanese verb ＜aru (ある)＞ is a very big verb. Not the size (only two syllables, a - ru) but the meaning. ＜aru (ある)＞ covers the meaning of ＜to exist＞, ＜to be＞, ＜to have＞ and to show (imply) the meaning of ＜to recognize＞. As it covers the meaning of existence and the recognition ＜aru (ある)＞ covers everything in the world.

In English

1) to show the existence we  use ＜to be＞(Here is (are), there is (are)) and ＜to exist>. Here is an A. There are As.  A uxists.

2) to show the characteristics of a thing and some relationship between two things (including equality) we use ＜to be＞.  A is xxx. A is B. A is A.

3) to show some relationships of things (between one thing and another thing, or among several things) we we use ＜to have＞ in case of the relationships being related with some sense of belonging in either physically or psychologically.  We have an A. He has a B.

Overall to show the existence or more precisely to show the recognition of existence of some thing or some event (including activity, accident, incident) you use ＜to be＞ or ＜to have＞, which are the two fundamental (most frequently used usually unconsciously) English verbs.

In Japanese the verb ＜aru (ある)＞ covers ＜to be＞, <to exist>) and ＜to have＞.　＜aru (ある)＞is an intransitive verb like ＜to exist＞while ＜to be＞is an intransitive verb having a special function of cupola and ＜to have＞is a transitive verb. It is a bit difficult to live in this <a-ru> world because there is only <a-ru> which shows the meaning of <to exist> and <to have> as well. Japanese people, as far as they use Japanese, they lack the sense of <to have> except physically holding something by hand(s). They cannot have a house as a house is too large and heavy. For them a house is (exists) with them. This is why you have some strange feeling when you talk with Japanese people. They live in a world different from your world in terms of recognition of the existence of things and events. Only a few samples are shown below.

1) There is an apple on the table.
Japanese: te-e-bu-ru no ue ni ringo ga aru. (テーブルの上にりんごがある。)

2) We have (will have) a meting this afternoon.
Japanese: kyou no gogo kaigi ga aru. (きょうの午後会議がある。)

3) Peter has a family (a wife and children).
Japanese: Taro ni wa kazoku (saishi) ga aru. (太郎には家族（妻子）がある。)　Taro is a common man's first name.

4) Beth is a student.
Japanese: Hanako wa gakusei de aru. （花子は学生である。) Hanako is a common woman's first name.

Besides ＜aru (ある)＞ covers everything in the world, one variant of ＜aru (ある)＞, ＜ara-wa-su (あらわす)＞ means <to express> (one of the most important functions of language and word). So, ＜aru (ある)＞ is really a big word.


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