Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 21/23

活(い)かすTo make use of (something), To take full advantage of, To capitalize on, To leverage (skills), Bring out (the quality of)

Can also mean “to let live”

Structure

Noun + を + 活(い)かす(1)
Noun + を + 活(い)かした(2) + Noun

(1) 生(い)かす
(2) 生(い)かした

Details

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    生かす

About 活かす

When を活(い)かす is partnered with a noun, it shows that (A) is something that is being made good use of, or leveraged. This can be in relation to skills, experiences, attributes, and many other things.

This grammar point may appear either in the form of the う-Verb 活(い)かす 'to enliven' or 生(い)かす 'to keep alive', with very little change in nuance. However, 活(い)かす tends to appear far more frequently, as the focus of this kanji is less in relation to the preservation of life, and more on just 'making good use' of something.

When linked to a (B) noun, in order to show that something 'has' been made good use of, 活(い)かす will appear in the past tense.

Fun-fact

活(い)かす will often be used with adverbs of amount or quality, in order to highlight just how well (A) is being made good use of, or capitalized on. Examples include 十分(じゅうぶん)に 'adaquately', 有効(ゆうこう)に 'effectively', 最大限(さいだいげん)に 'to the fullest', and similar words.

  • 私(わたし)は仕事(しごと)で日本語(にほんご)を十分(じゅうぶん)に活(い)かせるかが心配(しんぱい)です。
    I am concerned about my ability to fully make use of my Japanese at work.
  • 勉強(べんきょう)が出来(でき)る時間(じかん)は限(かぎ)られている為(ため)、時間(じかん)を有効(ゆうこう)に活(い)かせるようにプランを立(た)ててから勉強(べんきょう)をするようにしています。
    The time that I can study is limited, so in order to make good use of my time, I make sure to make a plan before I start studying.

Examples

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    友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)：「ぼくはこのチャンスを活(い)かしたい。」

    Chat between friends: 'I want to take full advantage of this chance.'

    新聞記事(しんぶんきじ)：「ルイスさんは技師(ぎし)としての経験(けいけん)を活(い)かして修理業(しゅうりぎょう)を始(はじ)めました。」

    Newspaper article: 'Louis made good use of his experience as a technician and started a repair business.'

    ノートパソコンの生産者(せいさんしゃ)のサイト：「アルミニウムの美(うつく)しさを最大限(さいだいげん)に活(い)かしたノートパソコン」

    Laptop producer's website: 'A laptop that takes full advantage of the beauty of aluminum'

    教師(きょうし)、生徒(せいと)に：「マックス、すばらしい写真(しゃしん)をとる才能(さいのう)があるのだから、それを最大限(さいだいげん)に活(い)かすべきだよ。」

    Teacher to pupil: 'Max, you are talented at taking excellent photos, so you have to take full advantage of it!'

    ジョブ広告(こうこく)：「資格(しかく)を活(い)かした仕事(しごと)です。一緒(いっしょ)に頑張(がんば)ってくれる仲間(なかま)を募集中(ぼしゅうちゅう)。」

    Job advertisement: 'A sales job that takes full advantage of your qualifications. Recruiting colleagues that we can mutually give it our all with.'

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