演ずる|えんずるenzuru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbto act (a part); to play (a role)
  2. ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbto perform (a play, etc.); to put on (a production)
  3. ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbto commit (a blunder); to pretend (e.g. to be a good father); to disgrace oneself
Conjugation
Dictionary form演ずる(えんずる)
Polite (masu)演ずます(えんずます)
Negative (nai)演ずない(えんずない)
polite (masen)演ずません(えんずません)
classical zu / nu演ずず・演ずぬ(えんずず・えんずぬ)
Past (ta)演ずた(えんずた)
polite (mashita)演ずました(えんずました)
Past negative (nakatta)演ずなかった(えんずなかった)
polite (masen deshita)演ずませんでした(えんずませんでした)
Te form演ずて(えんずて)
Potential演ずられる(えんずられる)
Passive演ずられる(えんずられる)
Causative演ずさせる(えんずさせる)
Causative passive演ずさせられる(えんずさせられる)
Conditional (ba)演ずれば(えんずれば)
tara演ずたら(えんずたら)
Volitional演ずよう(えんずよう)
polite (mashou)演ずましょう(えんずましょう)
Imperative演ずろ(えんずろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym演じるえんじるNeutralThe modern, standard form, synonymous with 「演ずる」: 「主役を演じる」. More common in speech, while 「演ずる」 sounds slightly written and old-fashioned.
  • Synonym上演じょうえんNeutralA noun for putting a play on stage, as in 「舞台を上演する」. The subject is typically a theater company or venue, not the individual actor.
  • Related演技えんぎNeutralA noun for acting or acting skill, as in 「演技が上手い」; also used for gymnastics and similar displays. 「演ずる」 is the act of performing itself.
  • Related実演じつえんNeutralA noun for a live demonstration or actual performance, e.g. 「料理の実演」. It stresses showing something done in person rather than playing a role.
  • RelatedプレイNeutralA loanword for play in games or sports and for music, e.g. 「ゲームをプレイする」. Acting a role mostly appears in terms like 「ロールプレイ」; for stage or film roles use 「演ずる」.
  • Related公演こうえんNeutralA noun for a public performance, as in 「全国公演」. It centers on the event put before an audience, while 「演ずる」 centers on playing the role.
  • Related出演しゅつえんNeutralA noun for appearing in a show, as in 「ドラマに出演する」. It stresses taking part in a program; 「演ずる」 stresses playing the role itself.
  • Related演奏えんそうNeutralA noun for performing music on an instrument, as in 「ピアノの演奏」. Used only for music, whereas 「演ずる」 is mostly for acting roles in drama.

Use 「演ずる」 to play a role or make a blunder, as in 「醜態を演ずる」, but in everyday speech prefer 「演じる」. For acting skill say 「演技」, for appearing in a show 「出演」, for a company staging a play 「上演」, and for instruments 「演奏」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 舞台ぶたいなどで俳優はいゆうが役やくを果はたすこと。
  2. 劇げきや音楽おんがくなどの作品さくひんを舞台ぶたいにかけて観客かんきゃくに見みせること。
  3. 失敗しっぱいをしでかしたり、ある人物じんぶつのようにふるまって見みせたり、人前ひとまえで恥はじをさらしたりすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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