できる (dekiru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Can

The verb できる (dekiru) means can, to be able to, to be good at, to be able to do something; it is a verb related to the ability to do something, the skill and the capacity.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of できる, how it is formed and when できる is used through real example sentences.

できる has also a number of meanings beyond the potential form and the translations vary depending on circumstances and context.

How できる is formed

The transcription in kanji of できる is 出(で)来(き)る.

The first form we see is the use of a noun combined with the verb できる.

This form is applied especially to those verbs that some grammars call compounds of suru and are formed by:

• noun + する to do
• 運(うん)動(どう)する do exercise, movement
• 料(りょう)理(り)する do the cooking, cook
• 会(かい)話(わ)する have a conversation, chat

The particle が is omitted in an informal, colloquial context.

Another very common use includes:

• the verb in plain form and in the present tense
• joined to the noun こと (thing, fact, event)
• the particle が
• and the verb できる

⇨ I can, I am able to perform, to accomplish the fact of ...

Difference between ができる and ことができる

The two sentences have the same meaning and are grammatically correct.

In a formal context the complete form verb + ことができる is used; e.g. in official documents mentioning legal regulations or in contracts.

How and when to use できる

The structure containing できる expresses the ability and capacity to do something. In Japanese it belongs to the 可(か)能(のう)形(けい), the potential forms.

The various forms used are:

• できない negative plain form of できる
• できます is the polite form in masu
• できません the negative of the polite form in masu

It also expresses the possibility to do something: we are given the opportunity to do that action, we have permission, it is possible to do it, we are allowed.

The sentence with ことができる in the negative form literally:

Various meanings and translations of できる

As we have anticipated, できる has a number of meanings that vary depending on the context, the situation and which we adapt in our mother tongue.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)って水(みず)たまり出(で)来(き)る。

Puddles form after raining.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

顔(かお)に吹(ふ)き出(で)物(もの)が出(で)来(き)た。

A pimple came out on my face.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

急(きゅう)に予(よ)定(てい)がキャンセルになり暇(ひま)ができた。

My schedule was suddenly cancelled and I have some free time.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

あと10分(ぷん)でイベントの準(じゅん)備(び)ができる。

In 10 minutes we will be ready for the event.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

料(りょう)理(り)が出(で)来(き)た！

Food is ready!

出(で)来(き)た in the plain form or 出(で)来(き)ました in the polite form, is widely used in the meaning of being ready.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

わが社(しゃ)は１９８０年(ねん)にできた。

Our company was founded in 1980.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

この仕(し)事(ごと)は今(こん)週(しゅう)中(じゅう)にできる。

This work will be finished within this week.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

用(よう)事(じ)ができた。

I have an engagement.

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

木(き)でできている物(もの)

Things made of wood

A comment on an Origami Tutorial Video:

出(で)来(き)ました。久(ひさ)々の折(お)り紙(がみ)、折(お)ってみると気(き)持(も)ちいいですね。

I did it! It feels good to fold origami after a long time.

できるだけ, as much as possible

できるだけ is a commonly used expression in Japanese and means: everything possible, as much as possible, the best that can be done.

A synonym of できるだけ is なるべく.