払う・掃う|はらうharau[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
払う払う is the most common written form for this entry’s meanings and is the form beginners should normally choose in writing.
掃う掃う is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it; recognize it as a less common written form, but choose 払う instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto pay (e.g. money, bill)
- godan verb, transitive verbto brush off; to wipe away; to clear away; to dust off; to cut off (e.g. branches)
- godan verb, transitive verbto drive away (e.g. one's competitors)
- godan verb, transitive verbto sell off (something unneeded); to dispose of
- godan verb, transitive verbto pay (e.g. attention); to show (e.g. respect, concern)
- godan verb, transitive verbto make (e.g. effort, sacrifice); to expend; to exert
- godan verb, transitive verbto move out (of one's own place); to vacate
- godan verb, transitive verbto sweep (e.g. one's legs); to knock aside
- godan verb, transitive verbto make a sweeping stroke (in Japanese calligraphy)
- godan verb, transitive verbto reset (an abacus)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 払う（はらう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 払います（はらいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 払わない（はらわない） |
| polite (masen) | 払いません（はらいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 払わず・払わぬ（はらわず・はらわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 払った（はらった） |
| polite (mashita) | 払いました（はらいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 払わなかった（はらわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 払いませんでした（はらいませんでした） |
| Te form | 払って（はらって） |
| Potential | 払える（はらえる） |
| Passive | 払われる（はらわれる） |
| Causative | 払わせる（はらわせる） |
| Causative passive | 払わせられる・払わされる（はらわせられる・はらわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 払えば（はらえば） |
| tara | 払ったら（はらったら） |
| Volitional | 払おう（はらおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 払いましょう（はらいましょう） |
| Imperative | 払え（はらえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym支払うしはらうNeutralRefers specifically to paying money, as in 「代金を支払う」. More formal than 「払う」, and used only for payment — it never covers the sense of brushing something away.
- Antonym蓄えるたくわえるNeutralThe opposite of the paying sense of 「払う」: it means to save up or build up a store, as in 「お金を蓄える」.
- Antonym溜めるためるCasualColloquial; the opposite of the paying sense of 「払う」. Means to save money up — or to leave it unpaid, as in 「家賃を溜める」.
Use 「払う」 by default for both paying and brushing something away. For payment in formal settings choose 「支払う」; for saving money up, use 「蓄える」 or the more colloquial 「溜める」.
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
