Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 4: 5/13

する

To do, To make into

Although not common, 為る kanji use can be seen

Structure

する

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Verb

  • Word Type

    Independent Word

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    動詞

  • 単語の種類

    自立語

  • 使用域

    一般

Rare Kanji

為る

About する

する verbs are one of only two verbs in Japanese that do not follow the standard rules of conjugation for Godan and Ichidan verbs. The other primary verb being (). する means to do something, or to make something a certain way.
  • 洗濯(せんたく)する
    To do laundry.
  • 料理(りょうり)する
    To cook. (Literally 'to do food')
する will almost always have the particle attached to the thing that is being done (depending on the form of the verb). The reason that する verbs are called さ-column irregular conjugation verbs in Japanese is because the る in する does not conjugate, but is dropped.
This will leave す to be the part that conjugates. Because of this, する has qualities of both る-Verbs (the る being dropped), and う-Verbs (the remaining す changing, depending on the conjugation). Here are some examples of how する changes.
(さ)せる, (し)ます, (す)る, (せ)よ
We will learn more about each of these conjugations of する, and their individual meanings at a later stage. For now, let's take a look at the polite します conjugation.
  • 電話(でんわ)します
    To make a call.
  • 勉強(べんきょう)します
    To study.
In a broader sense, する can be thought of as meaning 'to do something that has an external effect'.

Examples

  • サッカーする

    To play soccer.

  • サッカーします

    To play soccer.

  • (なに)します

    What will you do?

  • (わたし)勉強(べんきょう)する

    I will study.

  • 掃除(そうじ)する

    To clean.

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する – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

  • Jookun

    Jookun

    About 4 years ago

    Hi! In the sentence サッカーをしに行, is し a form of する? And if yes, what kind of form?
    Same here : 日本語を勉強しに行きます。
    Thanks for your help!

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    About 4 years ago

    @Jookun Welcome to the community!

    し is the stem form of the irregular verb する. The stem form is what is left over after removing ます. Since する conjugates to ます in the polite ます-form, し is the stem. Cheers!

  • Jookun

    Jookun

    About 4 years ago

    Thanks @Pushindawood! I went through the examples again and that stem form is used all the time. So it’s all beautiful and logical

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