Japanese Conversation · Level 119
60 words
Japanese word
生かす
Pronunciation
Romajiikasu
Meaning
- verbmake use of
Example
経験を生かします。kei ken o i ka shi ma su
I will make use of my experience.
More examples
旅行で覚えた日本語を生かして、店員さんと話します。ryo kō de obo e ta nihon go o i ka shi te ten in sa n to hana shi ma su
I use the Japanese I learned while traveling to talk with store staff.
Core concept
It treats an existing skill, experience, or resource as something that can be brought into effective use for a purpose.
Common phrases
機会を生かすki kai o i ka su
make the most of an opportunity
才能を生かすsai nō o i ka su
make use of talent
経験を生かすkei ken o i ka su
make use of experience
Similar words
役立てるyakudateru: To use something so that it helps achieve a purpose.
利用するriyōsuru: To use something for a particular purpose or benefit.
活用するkatsuyōsuru: To make effective use of an available skill, experience, or resource.
Definition in Japanese
持っている経験や知識などを、目的に役立つように用いること。mo tte i ru kei ken ya chi shiki na do o moku teki ni yaku da tsu yō ni mochi i ru ko to
Word origin
生かす (ikasu) is historically related to 生く (iku, "to live") and is a causative formation meaning "to make live"; using skills or experience effectively extends this idea.
Usage tips
- Japanese often writes the sense of making effective use of skills or experience as 活かす (ikasu), so learners may meet it alongside 生かす (ikasu).
Other meanings
- leverageverb
- put to good useverb
Related words
- 生かし方ikashikataway to make use ofnoun