How to say "spend" in Japanese

• 過ごすすごすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'spend' with time: how you pass a day, a weekend, a holiday, or a period of your life. The nuance is of living through the time as it passes.
  お元気げんきでお過すごしのことと思おもいます。↗

  I hope this letter finds you well.
• 費やすついやすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'spend' in the sense of expending or consuming: using something up, as when money or effort goes into a task. The nuance is of expenditure — something is used up in the spending.
  多額たがくの金かねがその橋はしに費ついやされた。↗

  A large amount of money was spent on the bridge.
• 明かすあかすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbReally means to pass the night — to stay up or remain somewhere through the night. Its 'spend' sense amounts to this; for spending time or money generally it is seldom the word you want.
  彼かれは寝ねずに一夜いちやを明あかした。↗

  He sat up all night.

Choose 「過ごす」 when 'spend' means passing time — a day, a holiday, a stage of life; 「費やす」 when it means expending or consuming something, as with money or effort; and 「明かす」 essentially only for passing the night.

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

• 過ごすすごすto spend (time)
• 費やすついやすto spend
• 明かすあかすto pass (the night)
• 使うつかうto use (time, money, etc.)
• 吐き出すはきだすto spend (e.g. saved money)
• かけるto spend (time, money)
• 送るおくるto spend (time)
• うつすto spend (time)