尽くす|つくすtsukusu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto use up; to exhaust; to run out of
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto devote oneself (to); to do one's utmost (for); to serve; to work (for a cause)
    あらゆる所ところの人々ひとびとが世界せかい平和へいわに尽つくす民衆みんしゅうの指導者しどうしゃを切望せつぼうしている。↗
    People everywhere yearn for public leaders dedicated to world peace.
  3. suffix, godan verbto do to exhaustion; to do completely; to do fullyafter the -masu stem of a verb
    Fishing trawlers have fished out all the local waters.
Conjugation
Dictionary form尽くす(つくす)
Polite (masu)尽くします(つくします)
Negative (nai)尽くさない(つくさない)
polite (masen)尽くしません(つくしません)
classical zu / nu尽くさず・尽くさぬ(つくさず・つくさぬ)
Past (ta)尽くした(つくした)
polite (mashita)尽くしました(つくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)尽くさなかった(つくさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)尽くしませんでした(つくしませんでした)
Te form尽くして(つくして)
Potential尽くせる(つくせる)
Passive尽くされる(つくされる)
Causative尽くさせる(つくさせる)
Causative passive尽くさせられる(つくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)尽くせば(つくせば)
tara尽くしたら(つくしたら)
Volitional尽くそう(つくそう)
polite (mashou)尽くしましょう(つくしましょう)
Imperative尽くせ(つくせ)

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

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive尽くすつくす⇄intransitive尽きるつきる
資金しきんを尽つくす
The intransitive 尽きる presents the が-marked resource as becoming exhausted on its own (資金が尽きる), while the transitive 尽くす presents someone as exhausting the を-marked resource (資金を尽くす).

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related捧げるささげるNeutralNeutral: to dedicate something or devote oneself, as in 「人生を捧げる」; 「尽くす」 stresses devoting heart and effort.
  • Related投げ打つなげうつWrittenWritten/formal prose: to give up something precious — one's life or property — for something else, as in 「私財を擲つ」; 「尽くす」 stresses doing your utmost.
  • Antonym怠るおこたるNeutralNeutral: the opposite of 「尽くす」 on effort versus slacking — to neglect or be negligent in what you should do.

Use 「尽くす」 for doing your utmost or serving someone with all your effort, as in 「全力を尽くす」; 「捧げる」 for dedicating something or devoting yourself; 「擲つ」 for giving up something precious for a cause. The antonym is 「怠る」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 極きわめる。
  2. 全まっとうする。
  3. そのことのために全すべてをする。
  4. 他人たにんのために精せいを出だす。
  5. 全すべてを表現ひょうげんする。
  6. 全部ぜんぶをやりきる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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