iru (to need) and iru (to be)

[Nate]

Okay, I am a bit confused here. How do I tell the difference between these two. Both are spelled the same in romanji and hiragana. The only difference that I see is in the first character of the Kanji.

居る [いる: IRU] (uk) (hum) to be (animate), to exist.

要る [いる: IRU] to need.

Any thoughts?

ネイト

[Jason]

They conjucate differently. "To be" as a class 2 verb, and "to need/want" as a class 1. Some examples:

To be
いる
いない
います
いません

To need/want
いる
いらない
いります
いりません

Context should also make it clear which one if it just says いる.

[Nate]

Jason-san,

Arigatou gozaimasu for the insight. I hope that, one day, I will be able to conjugate verbs like you just did. I know learning a language takes patience and all, but I am sorely lacking in that department.

ネイト