なす・成すnasu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto form; to make; to constitute
   イナゴが大群たいぐんをなしてやってきた。↗

   Locusts came in big swarms.
2. godan verb, transitive verbto build up (e.g. a fortune); to create; to establish
3. godan verb, transitive verbto accomplish; to achieve; to win (fame); to gain
   人間にんげんは動物どうぶつよりはるかに多おおくの偉業いぎょうをなしてきたのである。↗

   Human beings have achieved a lot more than animals.

   彼かれは作家さっかとして名なを成なそうという野心やしんを持もっている。↗

   He has an ambition to make a name for himself as a writer.
4. godan verb, transitive verbto change (into); to convertas ...と〜
5. godan verb, transitive verbto do; to commit; to carry out; to bring aboutalso written as 為す
6. suffix, godan verbto do intentionallyafter the -masu stem of a verb

• SynonymなすWrittenWritten prose. Means to do or carry out; best known from 「為す術もない」. 「成す」 is for forming or constituting something, or achieving it, as in 「群れを成す」「財を成す」.
• Synonym作り出すつくりだすNeutralTo create or produce something new. 「成す」 centers on forming or constituting a whole, such as a shape or a group, or on achieving feats.
• SynonymするNeutralThe same 「成る」 as above, here in the sense of 「〜から成る」: to consist of. Intransitive, while 「成す」 is transitive and actively constituting.
• Synonym果たすはたすNeutralTo fulfill a duty or role, or make good on a promise, as in 「役割を果たす」. 「成す」 is about forming or achieving.
• Related成し遂げるなしとげるNeutralTo carry a difficult task through to the very end. 「成す」 can simply mean forming a state or shape, without stressing completion.
• RelatedなるNeutralIntransitive: to become or turn into something. 「成す」 is its transitive counterpart, with an agent actively forming or achieving.
• Related遂げるとげるWrittenWritten prose: to attain an aim or end up with a certain outcome, as in 「進歩を遂げる」. 「成す」 is about forming or achieving.
• Related作るつくるNeutralThe most common word for making or building things. 「成す」 is written and lives mostly in set phrases like 「形を成す」「名を成す」.
• Related全うするまっとうするWrittenWritten prose: to fully live out or fulfill something, such as duties or one's lifespan, as in 「任務を全うする」. 「成す」 is about achieving or constituting.
• RelatedいたすFormalFormal and humble: the equivalent of 「する」, as in 「失礼致します」. 「成す」 means to achieve or constitute.
• Related行うおこなうNeutralTo hold or carry out an event or procedure, as in 「会議を行う」. 「成す」 is about forming or achieving.
• Relatedし遂げるしとげるWrittenWritten prose. To finish or accomplish to the end; in everyday speech say 「成し遂げる」 or 「やり遂げる」.
• Relatedやり遂げるやりとげるNeutralThe everyday choice: to stick with a task and finish it. 「成す」 leans written and also covers forming or constituting.
• Related遣り通すやりとおすNeutralTo persist and carry something through to the end. 「成す」 does not stress that process of perseverance.
• RelatedしすますWrittenA dated word for carrying a plan through successfully; in daily speech use 「やり遂げる」.
• Relatedやり抜くやりぬくNeutralTo grit one's teeth and hold out to the very end. 「成す」 is more written, about achieving or constituting something.
• Antonym壊すこわすNeutralAntonym: to break or destroy something — the opposite of 「成す」 building or forming it.
• Antonym破るやぶるNeutralAlso written 「破る」 and read 「わる」: to smash or split something into pieces, the opposite of 「成す」 building a whole.

「成す」 is a verb of written prose, used for forming or constituting something or for achieving a feat, as in 「群れを成す」 and 「財を成す」. To say a hard task was carried through to the end, use 「成し遂げる」 or 「やり遂げる」; to fulfill a duty or role, 「果たす」; to become something, the intransitive 「成る」. For simply making things in everyday speech, 「作る」 is the standard word.

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

1. 作り上つくりあげる。
2. 産うむ。
3. 行おこなう。
4. 仕上しあげる
5. 別べつの状態じょうたいにする。かえる。
6. …となる。形作かたちづくる。
7. （補助ほじょ動詞どうし）そのように思おもう。意識いしきしてする。