続ける|つづけるtsuzukeru[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto continue; to keep up; to keep on
- auxiliary verb, ichidan verbto continue ...; to keep on ...after the -masu stem of a verb
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 続ける（つづける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 続けます（つづけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 続けない（つづけない） |
| polite (masen) | 続けません（つづけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 続けず・続けぬ（つづけず・つづけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 続けた（つづけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 続けました（つづけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 続けなかった（つづけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 続けませんでした（つづけませんでした） |
| Te form | 続けて（つづけて） |
| Potential | 続けられる（つづけられる） |
| Passive | 続けられる（つづけられる） |
| Causative | 続けさせる（つづけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 続けさせられる（つづけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 続ければ（つづければ） |
| tara | 続けたら（つづけたら） |
| Volitional | 続けよう（つづけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 続けましょう（つづけましょう） |
| Imperative | 続けろ（つづけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
努力を続ける
続く describes something that continues on its own, without an agent (e.g., 雨が続く), while 続ける indicates that someone deliberately continues an action or state (e.g., 努力を続ける).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym継続けいぞくWrittenWritten/formal Sino-Japanese word for carrying a previous state on, as in 「契約を継続する」; 「続ける」 is the everyday choice.
- Synonym持続じぞくWrittenWritten/formal word for a state lasting a long time, as in 「効果が持続する」; stresses endurance over time rather than the act of continuing.
- Synonymし続けるしつづけるNeutralNeutral: a 「する」-verb plus 「続ける」, meaning to keep doing something, as in 「勉強し続ける」.
- Related維持いじWrittenWritten/formal word for keeping something at a certain level, as in 「現状維持」; stresses not letting it slip or worsen.
- Related保つたもつNeutralNeutral verb for keeping a state, as in 「健康を保つ」; stresses maintaining it, while 「続ける」 stresses going on with an action.
- Related保持ほじWrittenWritten/formal word for holding on to something continuously, as in 「記録保持者」; stresses continued possession.
- Related長持ちながもちNeutralNeutral word for things that last long without breaking, as in 「長持ちする電池」; about durability, not continuing an action.
- RelatedキープCasualColloquial loanword meaning to keep or reserve, as in 「キープする」; casual compared with 「続ける」.
- Related存続そんぞくWrittenWritten/formal word for continuing to exist, as in 「存続の危機」 or 「権利の存続」; used of organizations, systems, contracts; about existence, not action.
- Related続行ぞっこうWrittenWritten/formal word for carrying on something in progress, or resuming after a break, as in 「試合続行」; mostly matches and work operations.
- Related延長えんちょうWrittenWritten/formal word for extending time or length, as in 「会期延長」; about making something longer, not just going on.
- Related続くつづくNeutralNeutral intransitive verb for things continuing on their own; 「続ける」 is transitive, used when someone actively continues something.
- AntonymやめるNeutralNeutral antonym: to stop and no longer do something, as in 「タバコを止める」.
- Antonym中断するWrittenWritten/formal antonym: to break off midway, with the possibility of resuming later.
Use 「続ける」 as the default for actively continuing something, and 「続く」 when something goes on by itself. For formal prose pick 「継続」; for a match or work being carried on, 「続行」; for keeping a state or level, 「保つ」 and 「維持」; for extending time or length, 「延長」. 「止める」 is the opposite: to stop.
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
