Japanese word

化する

Pronunciation

Romajikasuru

Meaning

  • verbbecome

Example

大雨で道が川と化します。ō ame de michi ga kawa to ka shi ma su

Heavy rain causes the road to become a river.

Illustration for 化する (become)

More examples

文化祭の日、校庭は駐車場と化します。bun ka sai no hi kō tei wa chū sha jō to ka shi ma su

On the day of the school festival, the playground becomes a parking lot.

Core concept

Presents a thing as crossing from its existing condition into a new one.

Common phrases

  • 無と化するmu to ka su ru

    become nothing

  • 水の泡と化するmizu no awa to ka su ru

    come to nothing

Similar words

なるnaru: To come to exist in a particular state or condition.
変わるkawaru: To become unlike the previous form, state, or condition.
転じるtenjiru: To move from one state, role, or direction into another.

Definition in Japanese

それまでと異なる状態や性質になる。so re ma de to koto na ru jō tai ya sei shitsu ni na ru

Word origin

化する (kasuru, "to become") is made from the Sino-Japanese element 化 (ka, "change") and the native verb する (suru, "do"), with the combined form expressing transformation.

Usage tips

  • In formal writing, 化する (kasuru) commonly describes a place, situation, or object that undergoes a dramatic transformation, while everyday speech favors になる (ni naru).

Opposites

Word lists with this word