Many want to increase their vocabulary in the Japanese language, with the verb being one of the main focuses, as it allows people to express actions. There are some simple techniques that can triple your learning Japanese, let's look at those techniques in this guide.
The techniques in this article consist of word transformations. Most Japanese words can be transformed into others. If you are aware of this, you can triple or quadruple your Japanese learning.
All this is done by turning verbs into nouns, verbs into adjectives, adjectives into verbs, nouns into verbs and vice versa. Some of these actions are super simple, others need more caution. Ready to learn?
Table of Contents
Transforming Adjectives and Nouns into Verbs
One of the most important verbs in the Japanese language is suru [する], which means to do, to perform, or to cause. Through this verb, you can transform any noun, adjective, or word into a verb. Many verbs in Japanese use suru.
Suru is an irregular verb that can be found in different conjugation forms such as:
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Dictionary | to do | suru |
| Formal | します | shimasu |
| Informal Past | した | shita |
| Formal Past | しました | shishite |
| Negative Informal | しない | shinai |
| Negative Formal | しません | shimasen |
| Informal Negative Past | しなかった | shinakatta |
| Formal Past Negative | しませんでした | shimasendeshita |
| Form – TE – て | して | shite |
| Conditional | すれば | sureba |
| Volitional | Let's do it. | shiyou |
| ive | される | sareru |
| Causative | させる | saseru |
| Potential | できる | can do |
| Imperative | しろ | white |
Of course there are numerous rules in the transformation of nouns into verbs, you can read some of these rules in our article about Suru e Shimasu - Criando Verbos em Japonês. There you will find a complete explanation of the topic.
When studying Japanese, always pay attention to verbs or words that end in suru and shimasu, because definitely by removing or adding such words, you learn another word, thus doubling your vocabulary. Here are some examples:
- Wedding "marriage” [結婚] - Marry “kekkonsuru” [結婚する];
- Telephone "telephone" [電話] - Calling"denwasuru" [電話する];
When studying a Japanese word, always try to see if it becomes a verb or a noun.
Kevin's Tip
Normalization of Japanese verbs
Do you know what nominalization of verbs in Japanese is? The nominalização of verbs in Japanese is called doushi no meishika [動詞の名詞化] and should not be seen as a way to transform verbs into nouns.
Particles like no [の] and koto [こと] are generally used to normalize sentences. There are different ways of normalization that we will not cover in the article, because this article focuses on the transformation of verbs and nouns.
To me, nominalization is nothing more than a way to indicate the function of verbs in the sentence and not a new word as we have with verbs transformed into nouns in Portuguese. This also applies even to the verbs suru [する].
In the case of suru, you take a word and add suru [する] indicating that you are doing or perform a certain action, or in the case of dekiru [できる] where you are able to do a certain thing. You do not create any new verb or word, only at the time of translation.
What few people realize is that koto [こと] and no [の] followed by a verb does not literally transform it into a noun but rather complements it, which can simply be translated as an "action".
Let it be clear that nominalization is not literally transforming a verb into a noun, this only happens when translating languages. Nevertheless, learning about the action of [こと] and [の] regarding verbs is still important, so let's begin...
There are situations where the koto [こと] or no [の] is totally necessary and useful to conjugate a verb in the middle of the sentence. In other situations, it makes absolutely no sense to nominalize.
What is the difference between no [の] and koto [こと]
The koto [こと] we are talking about in this article is the same as [事] which means thing. The koto is a conceptual, intangible thing, that is, something that cannot be touched, grasped, or held; something untouchable. It is seen as a suffix for nominalization.
The no [の] is a Japanese particle whose main function is to indicate that something belongs to another. But a [の] can also become a noun that is used to nominalize verbs and adjectives.
Both [の] and [こと] can be used in the same situations, but there are situations where only no [の] or koto [こと] can be used. Below we will see situations where only one of them can be used.
Cases where only koto [こと] can be used:
- When the following verbs involve communication or thoughts [話す, 約束する, 祈る, 伝える];
- When だ, です, and である follows the verb to be transformed [because of のだ];
- When the sentence is followed by [ができる] [がある] [にする] [になる];
Cases where only the no [の] can be used:
- When the following verbs are [聞く, 聞こえる, 見る, 見える, 感んじる];
- The following verbs are stop [止める, やめる];
- When the following verbs are [待つ, 手伝う, じゃまする];
There are other rules and exceptions not covered, but for simplicity's sake, の is often used when the external action happens at the same place or time as the internal action.
Renyoukei - Verbs that are actually nouns
Have you noticed in some sentences some long verbs that seem to be 2 verbs in one? This is called Renyoukei [連用形] or continuative form. This conjugation is used to 2 verbs like in the case of the verb hikudashi [引く出し].
The renyoukei has another very interesting function that is described in the video by ta68mada below. He says that we can use this form to learn new words like in the case of monogatari [物語] which is also a verb [物語り].
There are many Japanese verbs that, if we remove the masu [ます] or [る], they become a noun. I will try to list below some words for you to understand how some verbs turn into real nouns.
In addition to [こと] many verbs end up becoming nouns with the help of [もの] which also means thing and really brings a more lateral idea as in the examples food [食べ物] or drink [読み物] which could be literally translated as something to eat or something to drink.
- The verb story [話し] can turn story [話] which instead of meaning to speak becomes a tale or story.
- The verb reading [飲み] can be a noun meaning alcoholic drink.
- The verb live [生き] can be a noun meaning freshness, vivacity.
We came to the conclusion that if we remove [ます] from the verbs, it becomes a noun. In some cases, the verb is written with just one ideogram, but its reading is exactly the same as the masu form, as in the case of [話] and [物語].
Another form of verbs the verbs being literally used as nouns is in words like hanami [花見] which can be literally translated as "seeing flowers".
I hope this article has made it clear that turning verbs into a noun is simple and doesn't have to be confusing like many do. Just face Japanese as it is, without trying to translate or understand it like Portuguese.
I hope you enjoyed this little article; if you did, share it and leave your comments. Don't forget to visit my friend ta68mada. He has some sinister content that will change the way you look at japonês.
The video below talks exactly about turning verbs into nouns:
