An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

(Joyce) #1

3.2. FURTHER INFLECTIONS 101


original verb meaning joined verb meaning

write rewrite
do redo, do over


  • ’Crowd’, ’fill up’, ’go into’, ’enter’ This verb helps create com-
    pound verbs that calls forth a mental image of something going into some-
    thing else, such as something being filled up, something entering some-
    thing else, or even something being invested in something else. Examples
    of this are:


original verb meaning joined verb meaning

enter go into (someone’s) house/room
roll, wind become involved/entangled in


  • ’Cut’ Used in compounds, can mean anything from cuĴing
    physically to cuĴing conceptually, such as cuĴing off someone’s speech,
    cuĴing a meeting short, or doing nothing but that one thing (which can be
    thought of as cuĴing off any other option). A few examples are:


original verb meaning joined verb meaning

say declare, assert
understand to fully understand


  • ’Come out’ When used in compounds, indicates something of
    the inverse of , signifying something is going or coming out of some-
    thing else. This can be objects from a container, words from a mouth, or
    even thoughts from a cloudy mind:


original verb meaning joined verb meaning

think to suddenly remember
say to break the ice (ie, to start talking)
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