化す|かすkasu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
けすkesuok
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto change (into); to turn (into); to transform (into); to become
- godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto influence
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 化す（かす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 化します（かします） |
| Negative (nai) | 化さない（かさない） |
| polite (masen) | 化しません（かしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 化さず・化さぬ（かさず・かさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 化した（かした） |
| polite (mashita) | 化しました（かしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 化さなかった（かさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 化しませんでした（かしませんでした） |
| Te form | 化して（かして） |
| Potential | 化せる（かせる） |
| Passive | 化される（かされる） |
| Causative | 化させる（かさせる） |
| Causative passive | 化させられる（かさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 化せば（かせば） |
| tara | 化したら（かしたら） |
| Volitional | 化そう（かそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 化しましょう（かしましょう） |
| Imperative | 化せ（かせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym化けるばけるCasualColloquial. Used for spirits or foxes taking another form and for disguising oneself; also figuratively for dramatic transformation, as in 「大化けする」.
- Synonym化するかするWrittenWritten/formal prose. The suru-verb form of 「化す」 with the same meaning, only slightly more formal.
- SynonymなるNeutralNeutral. The most general, everyday word for becoming; it lacks the dramatic-change flavor of 「化す」.
- Synonym変じるへんじるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means to change and is synonymous with 「変ずる」; used only rarely.
- Synonym変えるかえるNeutralNeutral. A transitive verb for actively changing something; the most common everyday choice. 「化す」 is mostly 「～と化す」, written, stressing a complete transformation.
- Synonym変わるかわるNeutralNeutral. An intransitive verb for things changing; the most general choice, without the written-style emphasis of 「化す」.
- Related転ずるてんずるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Shifts direction or topic, as in 「話題を転ずる」; it leans toward turning or redirecting rather than becoming something.
- Related変ずるへんずるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means to change but is rare and rather literary; 「化す」 is mostly used as 「〜と化す」 for turning into a state.
- Related成り変わるなりかわるNeutralNeutral. Means becoming a different thing or state, but is rarely used; 「化す」 appears mostly as 「～と化す」, stressing the whole turning into a state.
For everyday change, use 「変わる」 or 「なる」. 「化す」 is written-style and mostly appears as 「〜と化す」 for something turning wholesale into a state, often negative, as in 「焼け野原と化す」「廃墟と化す」. For spirits or foxes taking another form, use 「化ける」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- 変化して何かになる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
