What Are Compound Verbs?
A compound verb (fukugou doushi, 複合動詞) in Japanese is formed by combining the stem of one verb with another complete verb. The result is a new verb with a meaning that may be predictable from its parts or entirely idiomatic. Compound verbs appear constantly in both spoken and written Japanese, and understanding them is essential for progressing beyond intermediate level. English has a similar concept with phrasal verbs like "break down" or "look up," where two words create a meaning different from either word alone.
How Compound Verbs Are Formed
The pattern is straightforward: take the masu-stem (the verb without -masu) of the first verb and attach the second verb in its dictionary form. For example:
- tobikomu (飛び込む) = tobi (fly) + komu (enter) = to jump into, to dive into
- hashiridasu (走り出す) = hashiri (run) + dasu (put out) = to start running, to break into a run
- kangaekomu (考え込む) = kangae (think) + komu (enter) = to think deeply, to be lost in thought
Common Second-Position Verbs and Their Meanings
Certain verbs appear repeatedly in the second position, adding consistent nuances:
-dasu (出す): Begin suddenly, emerge
- Nakidasu (泣き出す): To burst into tears
- Furidasu (降り出す): To start raining
- Waraidasu (笑い出す): To burst out laughing
- Omoidasu (思い出す): To remember, to recall
-komu (込む): Enter deeply, thoroughly
- Suikomu (吸い込む): To inhale deeply, to suck in
- Hanashikomu (話し込む): To get deep into conversation
- Oshikomu (押し込む): To push into, to cram in
- Nomikomu (飲み込む): To swallow, to gulp down (also: to understand)
-naosu (直す): Redo, correct
- Yarinaosu (やり直す): To redo, to start over
- Kakinaosu (書き直す): To rewrite
- Tsukunaosu (作り直す): To remake
- Minaosu (見直す): To review, to reconsider
-tsuzukeru (続ける): Continue
- Tabetsuzukeru (食べ続ける): To continue eating
- Arukitsuzukeru (歩き続ける): To keep walking
- Hataraki tsuzukeru (働き続ける): To continue working
-au (合う): Mutual action
- Hanashiau (話し合う): To discuss (talk mutually)
- Tasukeau (助け合う): To help each other
- Wakariau (分かり合う): To understand each other
Idiomatic Compound Verbs
Some compound verbs have meanings that cannot be predicted from their components. Torikumu (取り組む, to tackle/grapple with) does not literally mean "take and enter." Kirinukeru (切り抜ける, to get through a difficulty) does not just mean "cut and pass through." These idiomatic compounds must be learned individually. Search for them on KotobaPeek to understand their precise usage and meaning.