How to say "exert" in Japanese

• 及ぼすおよぼすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbFor 'exert' when what is exerted is influence: an influence, effect, or harm that extends to and acts on something else, so this fits exerting influence and causing damage or harm.
  あなたに被害ひがいを及およぼそうなどとは夢ゆめにも思おもいませんでした。↗

  Little did I dream of doing you any harm.
• 働かせるはたらかせるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbFor 'exert' in the sense of putting one's own powers to work: exercising restraint, one's imagination, or one's brain. It is about activating an ability or effort, not about influence landing on something else.
  想像力そうぞうりょくを働はたらかせた。↗

  I used my imagination.

Use 「及ぼす」 for exerting influence or causing damage or harm to something else; use 「働かせる」 for putting one's own abilities to work, such as the imagination or brain, or exercising restraint.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 及ぼすおよぼすto exert (influence)
• 振るうふるうto swing
• 働かせるはたらかせるto use
• 払うはらうto make (e.g. effort, sacrifice)