深める|ふかめるfukameru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto deepen; to heighten; to intensify
    We deepened our friendship.
Conjugation
Dictionary form深める(ふかめる)
Polite (masu)深めます(ふかめます)
Negative (nai)深めない(ふかめない)
polite (masen)深めません(ふかめません)
classical zu / nu深めず・深めぬ(ふかめず・ふかめぬ)
Past (ta)深めた(ふかめた)
polite (mashita)深めました(ふかめました)
Past negative (nakatta)深めなかった(ふかめなかった)
polite (masen deshita)深めませんでした(ふかめませんでした)
Te form深めて(ふかめて)
Potential深められる(ふかめられる)
Passive深められる(ふかめられる)
Causative深めさせる(ふかめさせる)
Causative passive深めさせられる(ふかめさせられる)
Conditional (ba)深めれば(ふかめれば)
tara深めたら(ふかめたら)
Volitional深めよう(ふかめよう)
polite (mashou)深めましょう(ふかめましょう)
Imperative深めろ(ふかめろ)

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

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive深めるふかめる⇄intransitive深まるふかまる
秋あきが深ふかまる
理解りかいを深ふかめる
深まる is intransitive and takes が, focusing on the change happening by itself (秋が深まる); 深める is transitive and takes を, focusing on someone’s action causing the change (理解を深める).

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related強めるつよめるNeutralStrengthens the force or intensity of something, as in 「警戒を強める」; it is about strength, while 「深める」 is about degree, deepening understanding.
  • Related強化きょうかWrittenWritten/formal term for reinforcing systems or capabilities, as in 「守備を強化する」; it leans toward building up strength rather than deepening.
  • Antonym浅めるNeutralThe antonym: to make something shallow, the direct opposite of the deepening done by 「深める」.

Use 「深める」 for deepening understanding, relationships, or feelings, as in 「理解を深める」 and 「親睦を深める」. For strengthening intensity say 「強める」; for building up strength or systems, 「強化」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 深ふかくする。
Kanji in this word

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

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