How to say "compose" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 書くかくgodan verb, transitive verbThe general verb for putting text down in writing: 'compose' here is simply 'write' — a letter, essay, report, or story. When you just mean 'write,' this is the word you want.
- 組み上げるくみあげるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'compose' in the sense of building something up from its parts: you put elements together piece by piece until they form a finished whole, as when composing a text or plan from components.
- 詠むよむgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb for composing poetry: it means to compose a Japanese poem, and can also mean to write or to make something a poem's theme. Use it when a poem is being composed.
- 組み立てるくみたてるichidan verb, transitive verbIts core senses are to assemble and construct — putting physical things together — but it also covers 'compose' when a story, poem, or similar work is built up structurally from its parts.
- 綴るつづるgodan verb, transitive verbTo write or compose a piece of text with a nuance of stringing words together; it has a literary, personal feel and is often used for letters and diary-style writing.
Choose 「書く」 for writing text in general, 「詠む」 for composing poems, 「組み上げる」 and 「組み立てる」 for composing something by building it up from parts, and 「綴る」 for writing with a literary, personal touch.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 書くかくto write
- 組み上げるくみあげるto compose
- 詠むよむto compose (a Japanese poem)
- 組み立てるくみたてるto assemble
- 詠ずるえいずるto compose (e.g. poem)
- 詠じるえいじるto compose (e.g. poem)
- 物するものするto compose
- 綴るつづるto write
- 静めるしずめるto calm (one's nerves, excitement, etc.)
- 賦するふするto compose (poetry, etc.)
- 吟ずるぎんずるto write (a poem)
- 吟じるぎんじるto write (a poem)
- 据わるすわるto calm down
- 作るつくるto create (an artistic work, etc.)
See also
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