How to Say ‘I have’ in Japanese
あります
ari masu
[ari masu]
💬 Usage Tip: [あります] is often used for having experience or years of experience, not just physical objects. In job talk, [2年あります] means "I have two years," with [経験] understood from context.
Phrase Breakdown
あり
ari
[ari]
exist / have
Part of a polite verb meaning there is / to have.
経験がありますと言います。
I say, 'I have experience.'
ます
masu
[masu]
polite ending
A formal ending used to make the verb polite.
ありますは面接でよく使います。
Arimasu is often used in interviews.
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