伸ばす・延ばす|のばすnobasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
伸ばすFor learners, 伸ばす is the most common written form for these meanings and the form to choose by default when writing.
延ばす延ばす is a less common written form for these meanings; learners should normally choose 伸ばす instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto grow long (e.g. hair, nails)esp. 伸ばす
- godan verb, transitive verbto lengthen; to extend; to stretch
- godan verb, transitive verbto reach out; to hold outesp. 伸ばす
- godan verb, transitive verbto straighten; to smooth out
- godan verb, transitive verbto spread evenly (dough, cream, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto dilute; to thin out
- godan verb, transitive verbto postponeesp. 延ばす
- godan verb, transitive verbto prolong
- godan verb, transitive verbto strengthen; to develop; to expand
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 伸ばす（のばす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 伸ばします（のばします） |
| Negative (nai) | 伸ばさない（のばさない） |
| polite (masen) | 伸ばしません（のばしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 伸ばさず・伸ばさぬ（のばさず・のばさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 伸ばした（のばした） |
| polite (mashita) | 伸ばしました（のばしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 伸ばさなかった（のばさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 伸ばしませんでした（のばしませんでした） |
| Te form | 伸ばして（のばして） |
| Potential | 伸ばせる（のばせる） |
| Passive | 伸ばされる（のばされる） |
| Causative | 伸ばさせる（のばさせる） |
| Causative passive | 伸ばさせられる（のばさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 伸ばせば（のばせば） |
| tara | 伸ばしたら（のばしたら） |
| Volitional | 伸ばそう（のばそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 伸ばしましょう（のばしましょう） |
| Imperative | 伸ばせ（のばせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
髪が伸びる
髪を伸ばす
伸びる describes something lengthening or growing naturally (as in 髪が伸びる 'hair grows'), while 伸ばす focuses on a person deliberately causing something to lengthen (as in 髪を伸ばす 'to grow one's hair').
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym延長えんちょうWrittenA formal written noun for extending length or duration, as in 「会期延長」.
- Synonym伸長しんちょうWrittenWritten: growth in length or strength, as in 「売上の伸長」.
- Synonym引き伸ばすひきのばすNeutralTo stretch something out or enlarge a photo; in the sense of dragging things out it often suggests deliberate stalling.
- Related伸びるのびるNeutralIntransitive: hair, height and the like grow, or things lengthen naturally; 「伸ばす」 is deliberately making something longer or improving it.
- Related広げるひろげるNeutralTransitive: to spread or widen an area or scope; 「伸ばす」 is about extending in length.
- Related広がるひろがるNeutralIntransitive: an area or range spreads naturally; 「伸ばす」 is transitive and centers on length.
- Related持ち越すもちこすNeutralTo carry an issue or work over to the next stage; close to the postpone sense of 「延ばす」.
- Related引っ張るひっぱるNeutralTo pull or tug, focusing on the act of pulling; 「伸ばす」 focuses on the result of becoming longer.
- Related広まるひろまるNeutralIntransitive: rumors or trends spread; it meets 「伸ばす」 only in the sense of spreading.
- Related広めるひろめるNeutralTransitive: to spread or promote knowledge or fame; 「伸ばす」 centers on length and ability.
- Related拡大かくだいWrittenWritten-flavored: expansion of scale or scope; 「伸ばす」 is an everyday word centered on lengthening.
- Related延期えんきNeutralA Sino-Japanese noun for putting off a date; 「延ばす」 can also mean postponing but sounds more colloquial.
- Related拡張かくちょうWrittenWritten: expanding scope, scale or functions, as in 「道路拡張」「機能拡張」; 「伸ばす」 centers on lengthening.
- Related展開てんかいNeutralTo unfold or spread out, or for how a situation develops; it meets 「伸ばす」 in the unfolding sense.
- Related先送りさきおくりNeutralPutting a decision or task off until later, often with a nuance of procrastination.
- Related繰り広げるくりひろげるNeutralTo unroll a scroll, or to stage an unfolding scene or contest, as in 「熱戦を繰り広げる」.
- Related成長せいちょうNeutralNatural growth of living things or the economy; 「伸ばす」 often means deliberately developing something, as in 「才能を伸ばす」.
- RelatedのすNeutralIntransitive: things stretch or extend, and it can also mean building influence or moving on; 「伸ばす」 acts on something to make it longer.
- Related延べるのべるWrittenWritten and old-fashioned: laying out a futon or postponing; rare, with 「伸ばす」 and 「延ばす」 the everyday choices.
- Related押し広げるおしひろげるNeutralTo push something open and expand it, with the focus on area; 「伸ばす」 focuses on stretching length.
- Related伸び上がるのびあがるNeutralIntransitive: stretching up on tiptoe to reach something high; confined to movements of the body.
- Related伸べ広げるのべひろげるWrittenWritten and rare: to stretch and spread out; 「広げる」 is what people normally say.
- Related伸展しんてんWrittenWritten: extending influence or scale, also stretching joints and muscles; for everyday actions use 「伸ばす」.
- Related取り広げるとりひろげるWrittenWritten and rare: to enlarge or spread out; 「広げる」 is what people normally say.
- Antonym縮めるちぢめるNeutralAntonym: to shorten or reduce length or distance, the opposite of making something longer.
- Antonym曲げるまげるNeutralAntonym: to bend something, the opposite of 「伸ばす」 straightening what is bent.
Use 「伸ばす」 to make something longer or straighter, to grow hair or nails, or to develop ability; the intransitive counterpart is 「伸びる」. For spreading over an area or widening scope, 「広げる」 is the natural choice, and for putting off a date use 「延ばす」 or the noun 「延期」. The rest cover special cases: pulling (「引っ張る」), carrying work over (「持ち越す」), formal nouns like 「拡大」 and 「延長」, and rare literary verbs such as 「延べる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
