奏する|そうするsousuru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb (irregular), transitive verbto report to the Emperor
  2. suru verb (irregular), transitive verbto play (musical instrument)
  3. suru verb (irregular), transitive verbto accomplish
Conjugation
Dictionary form奏する(そうする)
Polite (masu)奏します(そうします)
Negative (nai)奏しない(そうしない)
polite (masen)奏しません(そうしません)
classical zu / nu奏せず・奏せぬ(そうせず・そうせぬ)
Past (ta)奏した(そうした)
polite (mashita)奏しました(そうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)奏しなかった(そうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)奏しませんでした(そうしませんでした)
Te form奏して(そうして)
Potential奏できる(そうできる)
Passive奏される(そうされる)
Causative奏させる(そうさせる)
Causative passive奏させられる(そうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)奏すれば(そうすれば)
tara奏したら(そうしたら)
Volitional奏しよう(そうしよう)
polite (mashou)奏しましょう(そうしましょう)
Imperative奏しろ(そうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym演奏えんそうNeutralThe most general, everyday word for performing music; it carries no sense of a method succeeding or of reporting to the Emperor.
  • Synonym奏楽そうがくFormalFormal: performing music, especially gagaku or music at ceremonies.
  • Related奏でるかなでるWrittenWritten and poetic: to play an instrument, esp. strings. 「奏する」 now mostly appears in 「功を奏する」, meaning a method works.

For playing music, say 「演奏する」; 「奏でる」 is poetic. In written prose 「奏する」 often appears as 「功を奏する」, meaning a method works, as in 「作戦が功を奏した」; it can also mean reporting to the Emperor.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 奏上そうじょうする。
  2. 〔良よい結果けっかや働はたらきを〕生うむ。得うる。
  3. 奏かなでる。演奏えんそうする。歌うたう。
Kanji in this word

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