捧げる・献げる|ささげるsasageru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
捧げるFor beginners, 捧げる（ささげる） is the usual choice and the most common form of this verb.
献げる献げる（ささげる） is rarely used and may be encountered as an alternative written form; beginners should generally choose 捧げる（ささげる） instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto lift up; to hold up; to hold above eye level
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto give; to offer; to consecrate
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto devote; to sacrifice; to dedicate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 捧げる（ささげる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 捧げます（ささげます） |
| Negative (nai) | 捧げない（ささげない） |
| polite (masen) | 捧げません（ささげません） |
| classical zu / nu | 捧げず・捧げぬ（ささげず・ささげぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 捧げた（ささげた） |
| polite (mashita) | 捧げました（ささげました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 捧げなかった（ささげなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 捧げませんでした（ささげませんでした） |
| Te form | 捧げて（ささげて） |
| Potential | 捧げられる（ささげられる） |
| Passive | 捧げられる（ささげられる） |
| Causative | 捧げさせる（ささげさせる） |
| Causative passive | 捧げさせられる（ささげさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 捧げれば（ささげれば） |
| tara | 捧げたら（ささげたら） |
| Volitional | 捧げよう（ささげよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 捧げましょう（ささげましょう） |
| Imperative | 捧げろ（ささげろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym差し上げるさしあげるFormalFormal humble language for giving something to someone, as in 「お茶を差し上げる」; it stresses polite giving, while 「捧げる」 stresses solemn, reverent offering.
- Related贈るおくるNeutralCommon, neutral word for giving a gift or conferring something, as in 「花束を贈る」; the focus is on the gift, not solemn devotion.
- Related尽くすつくすNeutralTo devote oneself or do one's utmost for someone, as in 「家族に尽くす」; it stresses the effort given, not the offering of an object.
- Related与えるあたえるNeutralThe broadest, most neutral word for giving or providing; unlike 「捧げる」 it carries no sense of reverence or humility.
- Related進呈しんていWrittenWritten noun (also a suru verb) for presenting a gift, as in 「粗品進呈」; typical of commercial or promotional language.
- RelatedあげるNeutralEveryday verb for raising something or giving; common in speech. 「捧げる」 adds a solemn, ceremonial tone and is not an honorific form of it.
- Related奉ずるほうずるWrittenWritten, dignified word for dedicating something or serving and believing in a person or creed, as in 「職を奉ずる」; more literary than 「捧げる」.
- Related給うたまうWrittenArchaic written word: a superior bestows something on a subordinate; rare today. 「捧げる」 is a solemn offering whose recipient is not limited to superiors.
- Related奉じるほうじるWrittenWritten-style verb with the same sense as 「奉ずる」: to offer something up, or follow and serve a person or teaching.
- Related献じるけんじるWrittenWritten-style verb for presenting works or tribute, as in 「花を献じる」.
- Related進上しんじょうWrittenOld-fashioned written noun for humbly presenting an item; rare today. 「捧げる」 puts more weight on the feeling of devotion.
- Related進ぜるしんぜるWrittenOld-fashioned verb for giving something or doing something for someone, as in 「教えて進ぜよう」; often an elder's or superior's tone, while 「捧げる」 is a solemn offering.
- Antonym奪ううばうNeutralAntonym: to take or snatch something away from someone — the opposite of solemnly offering it up with 「捧げる」.
- Antonym掠め取るかすめとるNeutralTo swipe or filch something, often by trickery or on the sly; also stands opposite to offering.
Use 「捧げる」 for solemn, reverent offering or devoting one's life, as in 「祈りを捧げる」 and 「生涯を捧げる」. For polite giving pick 「差し上げる」, for gifts 「贈る」, for devoting effort 「尽くす」. 「奉ずる」「奉じる」「献じる」「進呈」「進上」「進ぜる」 and archaic 「給う」 are written or old-fashioned; 「上げる」 and 「与える」 are plain everyday giving. The opposites are 「奪う」, taking something away, and 「掠め取る」, filching it on the sly.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
