干す・乾す|ほすhosu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
干す干す（ほす） is the more common written form and the recommended choice for learners; use it as your default spelling.
乾す乾す（ほす） is a less common written variant. Beginners should recognize it, but choose 干す（ほす） instead when writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto air; to dry; to desiccate
- godan verb, transitive verbto drain (off)
- godan verb, transitive verbto drink up
- godan verb, transitive verbto deprive of a role, job, etc.usu. in the passive
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 干す（ほす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 干します（ほします） |
| Negative (nai) | 干さない（ほさない） |
| polite (masen) | 干しません（ほしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 干さず・干さぬ（ほさず・ほさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 干した（ほした） |
| polite (mashita) | 干しました（ほしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 干さなかった（ほさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 干しませんでした（ほしませんでした） |
| Te form | 干して（ほして） |
| Potential | 干せる（ほせる） |
| Passive | 干される（ほされる） |
| Causative | 干させる（ほさせる） |
| Causative passive | 干させられる（ほさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 干せば（ほせば） |
| tara | 干したら（ほしたら） |
| Volitional | 干そう（ほそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 干しましょう（ほしましょう） |
| Imperative | 干せ（ほせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym乾かすかわかすNeutralRefers to drying something by any means — a hair dryer, a clothes dryer, etc.; 「干す」 centers on airing things in the sun or wind.
- Related飲み干すのみほすNeutralMeans to drain a glass or drink every last drop; 「干す」 can also mean drinking something up, but that use is more written and formal.
- Related曝すさぼすWrittenRead 「さぼす」; it means drying in the wind and is dialectal or archaic and rarely used — say 「干す」 in everyday speech.
- Antonym濡らすぬらすNeutralMeans to wet or soak something; the opposite of 「干す」 in its sense of airing or sun-drying.
- Antonym湿らすしめらすNeutralMeans to dampen or moisten slightly; the opposite of 「干す」 in its sense of drying or desiccating.
Use 「干す」 for airing laundry or futons in the sun and wind; for blow- or machine-drying say 「乾かす」, for draining a glass 「飲み干す」, for wetting 「濡らす」. 「干される」 can also mean being left out or ignored.
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
