Compound verbs (複合動詞 / ふくごうどうし) are one of Japanese’s most powerful features. Instead of adding adverbs like English (“suddenly started running”), Japanese fuses verbs together: 走り出す (run-out = burst into running).
How Compound Verbs Work
Formula: V1 masu-stem + V2 dictionary form
走る → 走り + 出す → 走り出す (start running suddenly)
The compound conjugates as one verb using V2’s rules.
Category 1: Beginning & Ending
| Pattern | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 〜始める | Begin to ~ | 雨が降り始めた (It started raining) 勉強し始める (Start studying) |
| 〜出す | Suddenly start ~ / burst into ~ | 子供が泣き出した (The child burst into tears) 走り出す (Break into a run) |
| 〜終わる | Finish ~ing | 本を読み終わった (Finished reading the book) 食べ終わる (Finish eating) |
| 〜かける | Start but not finish / almost ~ | 言いかけてやめた (Started to say but stopped) 死にかけた (Almost died) |
〜始める vs 〜出す: 始める is a planned or gradual start. 出す is sudden or unexpected. 雨が降り始めた (rain started gradually) vs 急に降り出した (rain suddenly started).
Category 2: Continuation & Repetition
| Pattern | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 〜続ける | Continue ~ing | 走り続けた (Kept running) 勉強し続ける (Continue studying) |
| 〜直す | Do ~ again / redo | やり直す (Do over / redo) 書き直す (Rewrite) |
| 〜返す | Do ~ back / in return | 言い返す (Talk back) 打ち返す (Hit back) |
Category 3: Direction & Movement
| Pattern | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 〜込む | Into / deeply / thoroughly | 飛び込む (Dive into) 考え込む (Think deeply) 詰め込む (Cram into) |
| 〜出す | Take out / produce | 取り出す (Take out) 思い出す (Remember/recall) |
| 〜上げる | Complete / raise up | 作り上げる (Build up / complete) 持ち上げる (Lift up) |
| 〜下ろす | Take down / lower | 降り下ろす (Unload) 切り下ろす (Cut down) |
Category 4: Manner & Degree
| Pattern | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 〜過ぎる | Too much / overdo | 食べ過ぎた (Ate too much) 飲み過ぎる (Drink too much) |
| 〜合う | Do ~ together / mutually | 話し合う (Discuss together) 助け合う (Help each other) |
| 〜切る | Completely / to the limit | 使い切る (Use up completely) 疲れ切った (Completely exhausted) |
| 〜抜く | Through to the end / endure | 生き抜く (Survive through) 考え抜く (Think thoroughly) |
Top 10 Most Useful Compound Verbs
| # | Compound | Meaning | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 思い出す | Remember / recall | |
| 2 | 飛び出す | Jump out / rush out | |
| 3 | 取り出す | Take out | |
| 4 | 食べ過ぎる | Eat too much | |
| 5 | 話し合う | Discuss | |
| 6 | やり直す | Redo / start over | |
| 7 | 走り出す | Start running | |
| 8 | 考え込む | Think deeply | |
| 9 | 作り上げる | Build up / create | |
| 10 | 使い切る | Use up completely |
Verb Grammar Series
Frequently Asked Questions
Two verbs fused together: V1 masu-stem + V2. 飛び出す = fly + come out = jump out. The second verb adds direction, manner, or aspect to the first verb’s action.
Take V1’s masu-stem + V2 dictionary form. 走る → 走り + 出す → 走り出す. The compound conjugates using V2’s rules.
Start with: 〜出す (suddenly start), 〜始める (begin), 〜続ける (continue), 〜込む (into/deeply), 〜直す (redo). These five cover hundreds of expressions.
Know the kanji in compound verbs and they become intuitive.