越す・超す|こすkosu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
越す越す is the most common spelling and the recommended default for beginners; it is written with kanji and kana.
超す超す is a less common spelling of the same word, also written with kanji and kana; you will encounter it less often than 越す.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto cross over (e.g. mountain); to go across
- godan verb, transitive verbto get over (e.g. hardship)
- godan verb, transitive verbto pass time (e.g. a winter)
- godan verb, transitive verbto surpass; to be better than; to exceedoften 超す
- godan verb, transitive verbto move house
- godan verb, transitive verbto go; to comeまたお越しください。↗Please come again.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 越す（こす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 越します（こします） |
| Negative (nai) | 越さない（こさない） |
| polite (masen) | 越しません（こしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 越さず・越さぬ（こさず・こさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 越した（こした） |
| polite (mashita) | 越しました（こしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 越さなかった（こさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 越しませんでした（こしませんでした） |
| Te form | 越して（こして） |
| Potential | 越せる（こせる） |
| Passive | 越される（こされる） |
| Causative | 越させる（こさせる） |
| Causative passive | 越させられる（こさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 越せば（こせば） |
| tara | 越したら（こしたら） |
| Volitional | 越そう（こそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 越しましょう（こしましょう） |
| Imperative | 越せ（こせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym越えるこえるNeutralRoughly synonymous with 「越す」; both work for crossing mountains or borders and getting through a season, as in 「冬を越す」/「冬を越える」, but 「越える」 is more common.
- Synonym通り越すとおりこすNeutralMeans going past a place and continuing on, or going beyond a certain degree, as in 「呆れを通り越す」; not used for getting over mountains or through winter.
- Synonym横切るよこぎるNeutralCrosses from one side to the other, e.g. a road or a room, focusing on lateral movement; 「越す」 is about getting over something high or an obstacle.
- SynonymすぎるNeutralPasses a place or marks time elapsing, and works as a suffix for excess; 「越す」 is about getting over obstacles or through a season.
- Synonym通り過ぎるとおりすぎるNeutralGoes past a place without stopping, as in 「駅を通り過ぎる」; 「越す」 is about getting over an obstacle or a border.
- SynonymわたるNeutralCrosses a river, the sea or a road from one side to the other, and extends over a range; 「越す」 is about getting over something high.
- Synonym突っ切るつっきるCasualGoes straight through a place without detouring, e.g. a plaza or a field; brisk and colloquial in tone. 「越す」 is about getting over something high.
- Related通り抜けるとおりぬけるNeutralGoes through the inside of a place to the other side, e.g. a tunnel or alley, or out of a situation; 「越す」 is about getting over, not passing through.
- Related突き抜けるつきぬけるNeutralPierces or bores through to the other side, or goes straight through along a road, as in 「この道を突き抜ける」; 「越す」 is about getting over something high or through a season.
- Related抜けるぬけるNeutralA very broad word — coming off or out, omissions, fading — that only overlaps with 「越す」 in the sense of passing through a place.
- Related過ぎ去るすぎさるNeutralTime or things passing away and vanishing, with a retrospective feel, as in 「過ぎ去った日々」; not used for getting over mountains or other obstacles.
- Related通るとおるNeutralThe most common everyday word: passing by or along, a route running through, or being allowed in; 「越す」 is about getting over something high or an obstacle.
- Relatedくぐり抜けるくぐりぬけるNeutralDucks through a low or narrow gap, or figuratively through hardship or danger, or evades the law; 「越す」 covers mountains, borders, seasons, not squeezing through.
For getting over mountains or getting through a winter, use 「越す」 or, more commonly, 「越える」. To cross a road, use 「渡る」 or 「横切る」; to go through a tunnel, 「通り抜ける」; to pass a place, 「通る」 or 「通り過ぎる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
