働かす|はたらかすhatarakasu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- godan verb, transitive verbto put someone to work; to make someone work彼らは私たちを一日中働かした。↗They made us work all day long.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 働かす(はたらかす) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 働かします(はたらかします) |
| Negative (nai) | 働かさない(はたらかさない) |
| polite (masen) | 働かしません(はたらかしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 働かさず・働かさぬ(はたらかさず・はたらかさぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 働かした(はたらかした) |
| polite (mashita) | 働かしました(はたらかしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 働かさなかった(はたらかさなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 働かしませんでした(はたらかしませんでした) |
| Te form | 働かして(はたらかして) |
| Potential | 働かせる(はたらかせる) |
| Passive | 働かされる(はたらかされる) |
| Causative | 働かさせる(はたらかさせる) |
| Causative passive | 働かさせられる(はたらかさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 働かせば(はたらかせば) |
| tara | 働かしたら(はたらかしたら) |
| Volitional | 働かそう(はたらかそう) |
| polite (mashou) | 働かしましょう(はたらかしましょう) |
| Imperative | 働かせ(はたらかせ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym働かせるはたらかせるNeutralAnother form of 「働かす」 and the more common one; also often seen as 「頭を働かせる」, putting one's brain to work.
- Related使うつかうNeutralThe most general word for using tools, people, or money; 「働かす」 focuses on getting people, machines, or abilities up and running.
- Related使用しようWrittenWritten/formal word for using something; 「働かす」 centers on making people work or putting functions into action.
- Related利用りようNeutralTo utilize something or put it to use; 「働かす」 focuses on making it work.
- Related運用うんようWrittenWritten word for applying or managing funds, systems, and the like; 「働かす」 focuses on making people work.
- Related用いるもちいるWrittenWritten/formal for using or adopting something; 「働かす」 focuses on making people or the mind work.
- Related活用かつようNeutralTo put something to full or good use; also the grammar term for conjugation; 「働かす」 focuses on making it run.
- Related使役しえきWrittenFormal word for setting people to work; also the grammar term 「使役形」, the causative form; 「働かす」 is the more colloquial choice.
- Antonym休ませるやすませるNeutralTo let someone rest or take time off — the opposite of 「働かす」.
- Antonym遊ばせるあそばせるNeutralTo let someone play, or to leave something idle and unused — the opposite of 「働かす」.
To make someone work or put an ability to work, say 「働かす」 or the more common 「働かせる」, as in 「頭を働かせる」. For simply using things, choose 「使う」 or 「利用」; to let someone rest, use 「休ませる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


