汚す・穢す|よごすyogosu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
けがすkegasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
汚す汚す is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it when you need to write this word.
穢す穢す is a less common written form of this word; it is not the form beginners should normally choose.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto pollute; to contaminate; to soil; to make dirty; to stain
- godan verb, transitive verbto disgrace; to dishonour; to dishonor; to defileesp. けがす
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 汚す（よごす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 汚します（よごします） |
| Negative (nai) | 汚さない（よごさない） |
| polite (masen) | 汚しません（よごしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 汚さず・汚さぬ（よごさず・よごさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 汚した（よごした） |
| polite (mashita) | 汚しました（よごしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 汚さなかった（よごさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 汚しませんでした（よごしませんでした） |
| Te form | 汚して（よごして） |
| Potential | 汚せる（よごせる） |
| Passive | 汚される（よごされる） |
| Causative | 汚させる（よごさせる） |
| Causative passive | 汚させられる（よごさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 汚せば（よごせば） |
| tara | 汚したら（よごしたら） |
| Volitional | 汚そう（よごそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 汚しましょう（よごしましょう） |
| Imperative | 汚せ（よごせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
手が汚れる
手を汚す
手が汚れる describes hands becoming dirty, focusing on the resulting state. 手を汚す describes an agent dirtying their hands, emphasizing the action of soiling.
身が汚れる
身を汚す
身が汚れる expresses that one's body or person becomes defiled, highlighting the state of being soiled. 身を汚す indicates an agent defiling themselves, focusing on the act of soiling.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related汚染おせんWrittenA written noun, chiefly for pollution of the environment and air, as in 「大気汚染」; it sounds more formal than the everyday verb 「汚す」.
- Related汚損おそんWrittenA formal noun, mostly in rules and regulations, for soiling or damaging property, as in 「汚損した場合」; not used for people or reputations.
- Related冒涜ぼうとくWrittenA written noun for blasphemy or desecration — offending what is sacred or dignified; the taint is spiritual rather than physical dirt.
- Antonym清めるきよめるNeutralThe antonym: to purify or cleanse away defilement, as in 「身を清める」; a neutral verb that stands opposite to 「汚す」.
Use 「汚す」 for making things dirty or staining a reputation, as in 「名を汚す」. For environmental pollution pick 「汚染」, for soiled or damaged property in regulations 「汚損」, for blasphemy 「冒涜」; 「清める」 is the opposite, to purify.
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
