演ずる|えんずるenzuru[0]heiban (flat)
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- ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbto act (a part); to play (a role)
- ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbto perform (a play, etc.); to put on (a production)
- 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.
- 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


