Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 3: 17/18

がする

To give off, Smell, Sound, Taste, Sensation

Structure

Noun + が + する

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About がする

In Japanese, describing things that can be experienced with the senses (excluding visual), is a little bit different to the way that we would convey it in English. Traditionally, we would use unique verbs for each of these situations, such as 'smells like (A)', 'tastes like (A)', 'feels like (A)', etc. While this is still possible in Japanese, it is not the most common way.
がする is a grammar construction that focuses on the source of the smell, sound, taste, or feeling, and makes the sensory experience itself the subject of the sentence. To use がする, simply attach it to the end of any phrase that expresses which type of 'sense' is being created/given off by the subject.
  • この石鹸(せっけん)はバラの匂(にお)いがするから好(す)きです。
    I like this soap because it smells like roses. (Literally, 'it gives off a rose smell')
  • 誰(だれ)かが階段(かいだん)を上(あ)がっている音(おと)がする。
    I hear someone coming up the stairs. (Literally, 'the sound of someone coming up the stairs is being made')
  • このバナナが変(へん)な味(あじ)がする。
    This banana tastes weird. (Literally, 'it gives off a strange flavor')
  • 誰(だれ)かに見(み)られている感(かん)じがする。
    It feels like I'm being watched by someone. (Literally, 'the feeling of being watched is happening')
Fun Fact
Japanese often uses 気(き) 'energy', 'spirit', as something that can be perceived with the senses. Due to this, there are many phrases which use ～気(き)がする in the same way as this grammar point.
  • ヤバい、鍵(かぎ)をかけるのを忘(わす)れた気(き)がする。
    Shoot, I feel like I forgot to lock my door. (Literally, 'my attention is being drawn to that I may have forgotten to lock the door')
  • なんか忘(わす)れた気(き)がする。
    I feel like I forgot something. (Literally, 'my attention is being drawn to that something was forgotten')

Examples

  • 車(くるま)の音(おと)がする。

    A car is making a sound.

  • この部屋(へや)はコーヒーの匂(にお)いがします。

    This room is giving off a coffee smell.

  • この料理(りょうり)は塩(しお)の味(あじ)がします。

    This food gives off a salty taste.

  • お砂糖(さとう)を入(い)れ過(す)ぎたから、甘(あま)い味(あじ)がする。

    I put too much sugar in, so it gives off a sweet taste.

  • あの人(ひと)と一緒(いっしょ)に居(い)るだけで、変(へん)な感(かん)じがする。

    Just being with him gives off a weird feeling.

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がする – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    @Pushindawood Must just not be very common then because it seems like がする is still often used even when the stimulus is continuous.

    I guess if I think about it がしている could almost be acting like a stative verb here. The mats have and always will have a good scent. Perhaps the smell of books or a musty basement would be other cases where がしている could likely be used.

    That would explain why even if a room smelled like you burned something for a couple hours (but eventually disappears) it still uses がする. Also why がしている is relatively seemingly uncommon as we tend to communicate sensory perception in the moment.

    Thoughts?

  • jrmr50

    jrmr50

    I think it would help if this was put into the grammar point. I came here to ask the question, when is it a sensory perception がする and when is it a standard が＋する doing the subject

  • trig

    trig

    Hi,
    I got this orange message while answering one of the challenge sentences. But isn’t this sentence, ending in 〜ましょう, polite, not casual? (Or is it referring to the ので?)

    Screenshot_20230704-190535_Fennec_1|495x500

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