Definify.com
Definition 2024
する
する
See also: ずる
Japanese
Pronunciation
Alternative forms
- 為る (rare)
Verb
する (transitive, irregular conjugation, romaji suru)
- to do
- 何をしていますか。
- Nani o shite imasu ka.
- What are you doing?
- 何をしていますか。
- to wear (accessories)
- ネクタイをする。
- Nekutai o suru.
- I wear a necktie.
- ネクタイをする。
Usage notes
The verb する (“to do”) is seldom written in kanji (為る).
It is common to use する after certain nouns to indicate that the noun is being done; this is highly productive, meaning many nouns can be used as verbs in this way. Some examples are:
- 勉強 (benkyō, “studying”) → 勉強する (benkyō suru, “to do studying” → “to study”)
- 旅行 (ryokō, “journey”) → 旅行する (ryokō suru, “to do journey” → “to travel”)
Synonyms
- (to do): 成す, 為す (なす, nasu) (somewhat archaic, usage is more limited)
- (to do): 行う (おこなう, okonau) (to carry out)
- (used to make a verb): 〜る (-ru), a much less productive suffix for turning a noun into a verb
See also
- す (su)
Conjugation
Conjugation of "する" (See Appendix:Japanese verbs.)
| Stem forms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperfective (未然形) | さ・し・せ* | sa shi se* | ||
| Continuative (連用形) | し | shi | ||
| Terminal (終止形) | する | suru | ||
| Attributive (連体形) | する | suru | ||
| Hypothetical (仮定形) | すれ | sure | ||
| Imperative (命令形) | せよ¹ しろ² |
seyo¹ shiro² |
||
| Key constructions | ||||
| Passive | される | sareru | ||
| Causative | させる さす |
saseru sasu |
||
| Potential | できる | dekiru | ||
| Volitional | しよう | shiyō | ||
| Negative | しない | shinai | ||
| Negative continuative | せず | sezu | ||
| Formal | します | shimasu | ||
| Perfective | した | shita | ||
| Conjunctive | して | shite | ||
| Hypothetical conditional | すれば | sureba | ||
| * The sa- imperfective occurs in Kansai dialect and in certain set phrases, and forms the base of the passive and causative conjugations sareru, saseru, and sasu. The se- imperfective occurs in Classical Japanese and in other set phrases, and forms the base of the negative continuative conjugation sezu. The shi- imperfective is most common in Tokyo-standard everyday modern Japanese for forming the base of the negative conjugation shinai.
¹ Written imperative ² Spoken imperative | ||||
Etymology 2
Reading for various kanji spellings.
Verb
する (romaji suru)
Various verbs deriving from senses similar to “to slide” or “to rub”:
- 刷る, 摺る: to print something (from the way the paper would be placed on the printing block and rubbed)
- 掏る: to pick someone's pocket (possibly from the way a pickpocket must slide along unnoticed;[1] compare English slick)
- 擦る, 摩る, 磨る, 擂る: to slide, to rub, to chafe, to strike (as in a match, by rubbing); to lose or waste money
- 剃る: irregular reading for 剃る (soru, “to shave”)