Dekiru in Japanese: practise ability in a complete sentence

What does the sentence say you can do?

できる can express ability or possibility in an appropriate construction. First name the skill or task. Then ask whether the sentence reports the ability to do it or says it actually happened.

A dictionary may list other uses, including something being completed or coming into existence. This guide practises ability. Do not carry that one meaning into every occurrence without checking the surrounding words.

Compare an ability with an event

日本語を読むことができます。means “I can read Japanese.” It does not say that I read a particular article yesterday. 昨日、日本語の記事を読みました。reports that specific past event.

Now make the ability narrower: 短い文を読むことができます。— “I can read short sentences.” A concrete task makes your learning note more informative than a broad claim that you know the language.

Keep the phrase you are actually learning

The pattern verb dictionary form + ことができる gives you a reusable way to describe an ability: 料理を作ることができます. Keep the whole construction in an example before trying to shorten or vary it.

Other potential forms exist, and natural wording depends on the task. Avoid stacking two ability expressions just because both translate as “can”. Check which form your reference example uses.

State a skill and the condition

Write one thing you can do and one you are still practising. Add a useful condition, such as reading a short notice or understanding a slowly spoken direction. Then test that claim with a small task.

If the task is harder than expected, narrow the claim and choose the next practice. A sentence about ability is useful when it connects to something you can attempt independently.

Try it yourself

Which states an ability: 漢字を読むことができます or 昨日、漢字を読みました?