Japanese grammar

What does ～ています mean? Japanese grammar N5

～ています means is ~ing / an ongoing state.

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N5
Structure	V て + います
Romaji	~ te imasu
Meaning	is ~ing / an ongoing state

How to use it

An ongoing action, or a state that continues.

Meaning 1 — IN PROGRESS: 今、ご飯を食べています (right now, eating a meal).
Meaning 2 — ongoing STATE: 結婚しています (got married and is currently in that state), 住んでいます (living), 知っています (know).
Meaning 2 is easy to mix up: 結婚しています does NOT mean "is currently getting married" but "is married".
In spoken language, this is often shortened to ～てます.

Examples

今(いま)、音楽(おんがく)を聞(き)いています。
I am listening to music now.
兄(あに)は東京(とうきょう)に住(す)んでいます。
My older brother lives in Tokyo.

Common mistakes

Wrong東京(とうきょう)に住(す)みます。（when trying to say "I live in Tokyo"）

Correct東京(とうきょう)に住(す)んでいます。

住む describes a state of living, so it must use ています; 住みます sounds like "I will move to live there".

Related patterns

All N5 grammar →