する・為るsuru

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verbto do; to carry out; to perform
    「これ以上いじょう何なんも言いうことはありません、いいわけをするのはいやですから」と彼かれは言いった。↗
    He said, "I will say nothing more, because I hate making excuses."
  2. suru verbto cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    それらはあなたを暖あたたかくするのに役立やくだつでしょう。↗
    They will help you to get warm.
  3. suru verbto serve as; to act as; to work as
  4. suru verbto wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    そんな苦虫にがむしを噛かみつぶしたような顔かおするなよ。↗
    Don't make such a sour face.
  5. suru verbto judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use asas 〜にする,〜とする
  6. suru verbto decide on; to chooseas 〜にする
    結構けっこうです。それにしましょう。↗
    All right. I'll take it.
  7. suru verb, intransitive verbto be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)as 〜がする
    このスープはいやなにおいがする。腐くさっているでしょう?↗
    This soup smells horrible. Do you think it's gone off?
  8. suru verb, intransitive verbto be (in a state, condition, etc.)
  9. suru verb, intransitive verbto be worth; to cost
  10. suru verb, intransitive verbto pass (of time); to elapse
    彼かれは三さん日にちしたら出発しゅっぱつする。↗
    He is leaving in three days.
  11. suru verb, transitive verbto place, or raise, person A to a post or status Bas AをBにする
  12. suru verb, transitive verbto transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for Bas AをBにする
  13. suru verb, transitive verbto make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were Bas AをBにする
    He used a headache as an excuse for leaving early.
  14. suru verb, transitive verbto feel A about Bas AをBにする
  15. suffix, suru verbverbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
  16. auxiliary verb, suru verbcreates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
  17. auxiliary verb, suru verbto be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt toas 〜うとする,〜ようとする
Conjugation
Dictionary formする
Polite (masu)します
Negative (nai)しない
polite (masen)しません
classical zu / nuせず・せぬ
Past (ta)した
polite (mashita)しました
Past negative (nakatta)しなかった
polite (masen deshita)しませんでした
Te formして
Potentialできる
Passiveされる
Causativeさせる
Causative passiveさせられる
Conditional (ba)すれば
taraしたら
Volitionalしよう
polite (mashou)しましょう
Imperativeしろ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym行うおこなうNeutralFor rule-governed activities like meetings, exams and ceremonies; more formal than 「する」. Everyday actions such as 「宿題をする」 are not normally replaced by it.
  • SynonymなすWrittenLiterary, archaic-flavoured word for doing; mostly in fixed phrases like 「為す術もない」 and 「善を為す」. In daily speech use 「する」 or 「やる」.
  • SynonymなすWrittenMeans forming, constituting or achieving something, as in 「群れを成す」 and 「財を成す」; stresses the result formed, not doing in general.
  • SynonymいたすFormalHumble equivalent of 「する」 for actions by you or your side, as in 「私が致します」; not used for the listener's or the other party's actions.
  • Synonym実施じっしWrittenPutting plans, systems, exams etc. into effect; common in announcements and news, and limited to things planned in advance; weightier than 「する」.
  • Synonym実行じっこうNeutralAn everyday word for carrying a plan or idea into action, also running a program; stresses turning plans into deeds, a nuance 「する」 lacks.
  • SynonymやるCasualIn casual speech it often replaces 「する」, as in 「宿題をやる」, with a looser tone; set phrases like 「気がする」 won't take it, and it also means to give or send.
  • Related履行りこうWrittenFulfilling duties, promises or contracts; its objects are limited to obligations and agreements, mostly in legal and business contexts.
  • Related遂行すいこうWrittenCarrying a task or duty through to the end, as in 「任務を遂行する」; stresses seeing execution through, with a strong written flavour.
  • Related成し遂げるなしとげるNeutralSeeing work, duties or great undertakings through to a result, as in 「偉業を成し遂げる」; stresses getting things done, which 「する」 does not imply.
  • RelatedやらかすCasualColloquial for blundering or messing up, as in 「またやらかした」; rueful or teasing tone. For neutral doing, use 「する」.
  • Related果たすはたすNeutralFulfilling duties, promises or aims, or playing a role, as in 「役割を果たす」 and 「約束を果たす」; stresses full accomplishment.
  • Related執行しっこうWrittenExecuting penalties, orders, budgets or official duties under the law; objects are mostly legal and administrative, as in 「刑の執行」.
  • Related達成たっせいNeutralAn everyday word for achieving goals, records or plans; its objects are limited to targets of that kind, as in 「目標を達成する」.
  • Related実践じっせんWrittenPutting theory or what one has learned into actual practice, as in 「学んだことを実践する」; stresses doing as opposed to theory.
  • Related遂げるとげるWrittenAccomplishing an aim or finally reaching an outcome, as in 「目的を遂げる」 and 「進化を遂げる」; distinctly written-style.
  • Related営むいとなむWrittenRunning a business or making a living, also holding memorial services or funerals, as in 「店を営む」 and 「法事を営む」; far narrower in range than 「する」.
  • RelatedしでかすCasualColloquial: doing something outrageous or getting into trouble, as in 「とんでもないことを仕出かす」; carries a negative or surprised tone.
  • Related出来すでかすCasualOld colloquial word that once meant doing wrong; today it survives almost only as 「でかした」, praising someone for a job well done.
  • Relatedし遂げるしとげるWrittenSticking with something to the end and achieving the aim; close to 「やり遂げる」 but this form is less common.
  • Relatedやり遂げるやりとげるNeutralSeeing work or tasks through to the end without giving up; 「する」 only means doing and says nothing about finishing.
  • Related演るやるCasualA way of writing 「やる」 reserved for performing — plays, music, roles and the like.

Default to 「する」 for doing in general; 「やる」 is the casual spoken choice. Use 「行う」 for formal, rule-governed events and 「致す」 as the humble form for actions on your own side. To stress finishing or achieving, pick 「やり遂げる」, 「成し遂げる」 or 「果たす」; for blunders say 「やらかす」 (or 「仕出かす」). The nouns 実行 and 達成 are everyday words for carrying out plans and reaching targets; 実施・履行・遂行・執行・実践 are written-style with specific objects such as plans, duties and contracts, and 為す・成す・遂げる・営む are literary with narrow ranges.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 動作どうさを起おこす。
  2. あるものに作用さようを及およぼして、状態じょうたいなどを異ことならせる。
  3. 音おと、味あじ、においなど、あるいは身体的しんたいてき症状しょうじょうが感かんじられる。
  4. (〜〈金額きんがく〉する)〜の価格かかくである。
  5. (服飾ふくしょく品ひんなどを)身みに付つける。
  6. ものを使つかっておおう。
  7. (〜〈時間じかん〉する)〜の時間じかんが経過けいかする。条件じょうけん節せつでのみ使つかう。
  8. 形容詞けいようし・形容けいよう動詞どうしの連用形れんようけいについて、他動詞たどうしの複合ふくごう動詞どうしを構成こうせいする。
  9. (〜にする)〜に決きめる。
  10. (〜にする)このあとすぐに行おこなう。
  11. (〜とする)〜と定さだめる。設定せっていする。仮定かていする。
  12. (〜とする)〜とのべる。説明せつめいする。主張しゅちょうする。
  13. (多おおくは慣用句かんようく: 体からだの一部いちぶ + にする)その器官きかんの機能きのうを実現じつげんする。
  14. (修飾語しゅうしょくご + 体からだの一部いちぶ + をする)その人ひとの特徴とくちょうとして、そのようなものを持もつ。
  15. 動詞どうしに取り立とりたて助詞じょしをつけるときに用もちいる。補助ほじょ動詞どうしに使つかうことは比較的ひかくてき少すくない。形容詞けいようしの場合ばあいは ある を用もちいる。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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