行う・行なう|おこなうokonau[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
行う行う is the more common of the two written forms and uses a mixture of kanji and kana.
行なう行なう is a less common variant, also written with a mixture of kanji and kana; beginners should generally choose 行う instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto perform; to do; to conduct oneself; to carry out
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 行う（おこなう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 行います（おこないます） |
| Negative (nai) | 行わない（おこなわない） |
| polite (masen) | 行いません（おこないません） |
| classical zu / nu | 行わず・行わぬ（おこなわず・おこなわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 行った（おこなった） |
| polite (mashita) | 行いました（おこないました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 行わなかった（おこなわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 行いませんでした（おこないませんでした） |
| Te form | 行って（おこなって） |
| Potential | 行える（おこなえる） |
| Passive | 行われる（おこなわれる） |
| Causative | 行わせる（おこなわせる） |
| Causative passive | 行わせられる・行わされる（おこなわせられる・おこなわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 行えば（おこなえば） |
| tara | 行ったら（おこなったら） |
| Volitional | 行おう（おこなおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 行いましょう（おこないましょう） |
| Imperative | 行え（おこなえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymするNeutralThe everyday all-purpose 'do'. 「行う」 is more formal and written in tone, typical for events or actions carried out according to set procedure.
- SynonymなすWrittenWritten and faintly archaic: to make or bring something about, as in 「群れを為す」 or 「為す術もない」. Not a stand-in for 「行う」 in ordinary use.
- Synonym実施じっしWrittenPutting a planned undertaking into effect, as in 「調査を実施する」. Common in official documents and reports; 「行う」 is the more general verb.
- Synonym実行じっこうWrittenPutting an idea or plan into actual action, as in 「計画を実行に移す」; also used for running a program. 「行う」 simply states that something is done.
- Synonym執行しっこうWrittenExecuting laws, court judgments or official budgets, as in 「刑の執行」「予算の執行」. A narrow legal and administrative term, not a general 'do'.
- Synonym営むいとなむWrittenTo run a business or carry on daily life, as in 「店を営む」「生活を営む」; also used of holding rites. Written in tone, with its own set of objects.
- Synonym挙行きょこうWrittenTo hold a ceremony in solemn form, as in 「卒業式を挙行する」. Reserved for formal rites; 「行う」 also covers ceremonies but in a plainer way.
- SynonymやるCasualColloquial 'do', as in 「宿題をやる」. More casual than 「する」, and far looser than the formal, procedure-minded 「行う」.
- SynonymいたすFormalThe humble equivalent of 「する」, used for one's own actions, as in 「私が致します」. Belongs to polite set phrases, not neutral description.
- Related履行りこうWrittenFulfilling an agreement or obligation, as in 「契約を履行する」. A legal-flavoured word; 「行う」 is the neutral general verb for doing something.
- Related成し遂げるなしとげるNeutralTo carry a great undertaking through to success, as in 「偉業を成し遂げる」. Emphasizes completion, where 「行う」 just describes performing an act.
- Related果たすはたすNeutralTo fulfill a duty or keep a promise, as in 「役割を果たす」「約束を果たす」. 「行う」 is about performing the act itself, not discharging an obligation.
- Related達成たっせいWrittenTo achieve a goal, as in 「目標を達成する」. Focuses on the result attained; 「行う」 focuses on carrying out the activity itself.
- Related遂げるとげるWrittenTo realize an aim or end up with a certain result, as in 「進化を遂げる」. Written in tone and tied to particular collocations.
- Related全うするまっとうするWrittenTo carry a duty, or even one's life, through to the end intact, as in 「任務を全うする」「天寿を全うする」. Written and dignified in tone.
- RelatedしでかすCasualColloquial: to go and do something outrageous or out of the ordinary, usually something bad, as in 「とんでもないことを仕出かす」.
- Relatedし遂げるしとげるWrittenWritten: to see something through to the end and reach the goal. Fairly rare; in everyday speech 「やり遂げる」 is the usual choice.
- Relatedやり遂げるやりとげるNeutralTo stick with a task until it is finished, as in 「最後までやり遂げる」. Common in speech; 「行う」 does not carry this sense of seeing it through.
- Related遣り通すやりとおすCasualColloquial: to persist to the very end without giving up, stressing the process of seeing it through, as in 「一人でやり通す」.
- RelatedしすますCasualColloquial: to bring a matter to a successful close as planned. Now rare; say 「やり遂げる」 in everyday speech.
- Relatedやり抜くやりぬくCasualColloquial: to grit one's teeth and carry something through to the very end, with a strong nuance of perseverance, as in 「最後までやり抜く」.
- Antonym止めるとめるNeutralAntonym: to stop something or bring what is under way to a halt — the opposite of carrying an action out with 「行う」.
Default to 「行う」 for carrying out something according to set procedure. Everyday speech uses 「する」 or the more casual 「やる」; official writing prefers 「実施」; putting a plan into action is 「実行」; fulfilling contracts is 「履行」, executing law 「執行」. For completion pick 「果たす」 or 「やり遂げる」; the humble form for one's own actions is 「致す」. Narrower choices: 「営む」 for running a business or a life, 「挙行」 for solemn ceremonies, 「達成」 and 「遂げる」 for results, 「成し遂げる」「やり抜く」 etc. for perseverance, 「仕出かす」 for blunders; 「止める」 is the antonym.
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
