促す|うながすunagasu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto urge; to encourage; to press; to prompt; to draw (attention to)
- godan verb, transitive verbto stimulate (e.g. growth); to hasten (e.g. development); to quicken; to accelerate; to promote
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 促す（うながす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 促します（うながします） |
| Negative (nai) | 促さない（うながさない） |
| polite (masen) | 促しません（うながしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 促さず・促さぬ（うながさず・うながさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 促した（うながした） |
| polite (mashita) | 促しました（うながしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 促さなかった（うながさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 促しませんでした（うながしませんでした） |
| Te form | 促して（うながして） |
| Potential | 促せる（うながせる） |
| Passive | 促される（うながされる） |
| Causative | 促させる（うながさせる） |
| Causative passive | 促させられる（うながさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 促せば（うながせば） |
| tara | 促したら（うながしたら） |
| Volitional | 促そう（うながそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 促しましょう（うながしましょう） |
| Imperative | 促せ（うながせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym催促さいそくNeutralA noun for pressing someone to repay or reply, as in 「返事を催促」. 「促す」 is broader — it also covers gentle reminders and promoting progress.
- Synonym督促とくそくWrittenWritten/formal prose, used mainly for demanding payment, as in 「督促状」. 「促す」 is broader and also covers drawing attention.
- Synonym促進そくしんNeutralA noun for promoting or accelerating progress. 「促す」 is a verb and also covers reminders.
- Synonym早めるはやめるNeutralTo move something earlier or speed it up. 「促す」 focuses on urging someone or promoting progress.
- Synonym督励とくれいWrittenWritten/formal prose for supervising and encouraging subordinates. 「促す」 is broader, also covering reminders and promotion.
- Related迫るせまるNeutralTo close in or press someone, as in 「決断を迫る」. 「促す」 is gentler, a nudge rather than pressure.
- Related駆るかるNeutralTo drive or spur on; often of being driven by an emotion, as in 「不安に駆られる」. 「促す」 centers on reminding.
- Related急き立てるせきたてるNeutralTo hurry someone along impatiently. 「促す」 is gentler and also covers promoting progress.
- Related突き動かすつきうごかすNeutralTo drive or impel someone strongly, often stirring the heart. 「促す」 focuses on urging or reminding.
- Related説き勧めるときすすめるNeutralTo talk someone into accepting something. 「促す」 focuses on urging or reminding rather than persuading.
- RelatedせっつくCasualColloquial: to pester someone repeatedly, with an annoying nuance. 「促す」 is more neutral.
- Antonym妨げるさまたげるNeutralAntonym: where 「促す」 moves things forward, this hinders or obstructs them.
- Antonym抑制するNeutralAntonym: where 「促す」 pushes things along, this holds them down or suppresses them.
Use 「促す」 for gentle urging, drawing attention, or promoting progress, as in 「注意を促す」. For pressing repayment or a reply, use 「催促」; in written demands for payment, 「督促」; hurrying someone along, 「急き立てる」; compelling, 「迫る」. The antonyms are 「妨げる」 and 「抑制する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
