Different ある and いる

"Aru" and "iru" are two essential Japanese verbs that often cause confusion for learners. Both can be translated as "to be" or "to exist" in English, but they are used in different contexts.

Aru (ある)

 * Generally used for inanimate objects: Things that don't move on their own, like books, tables, or mountains.

 * Examples:

   * 本がある。 (Hon ga aru.) - There is a book.

   * 山がある。 (Yama ga aru.) - There is a mountain.

Iru (いる)

 * Generally used for animate objects: Living things, like people, animals, and insects.

 * Can also be used for inanimate objects that are perceived to be moving or have a sense of presence: For example, a car on the road or a ghost in a house.

 * Examples:

   * 猫がいる。 (Neko ga iru.) - There is a cat.

   * 車がいる。 (Kuruma ga iru.) - There is a car (on the road).

To summarize:

 * Aru is for things that are stationary or don't have a sense of action.

 * Iru is for things that move or have a sense of presence.