Translation and Meaning of: 起こす - okosu

Learning Japanese words like 起こす[おこす] can be a challenge, but it also serves as a gateway to better understand Japan's culture and daily life. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and practical uses of this word, as well as tips for memorizing it efficiently. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, this content will help you uncover the details of 起こす and how it appears in everyday situations.

The meaning and uses of 起こす

起こす is a Japanese verb that means "to raise," "to wake up," or "to cause." It can be used in literal contexts, such as waking someone up (目を起こす - "to open one's eyes"), or in more abstract situations, like provoking a problem (問題を起こす - "to cause a problem"). This versatility makes the word quite common in everyday conversations and even in news.

Additionally, 起こす also appears in expressions related to natural events or accidents. For example, 地震を起こす means "to cause an earthquake," while 火事を起こす means "to provoke a fire." Noticing these patterns helps to understand how Japanese uses the same verb for seemingly distinct ideas that share the notion of "bringing something into existence."

The origin and writing of 起こす

The verb 起こす is written with the kanji 起, which carries the idea of "to raise" or "to initiate". This character is composed of the radical 走 (to run) and 己 (oneself), suggesting an action of movement or beginning. The combination with the suffix こす reinforces the idea of causing a change, whether physical or abstract.

Interestingly, 起 is the same kanji used in words like 起きる (okiru - "to wake up") and 起業 (kigyou - "entrepreneurship"). This shows how a single character can encompass interconnected concepts, from simple actions to more complex ideas. To memorize 起こす (okosu), it is worth associating it with these other terms and observing how the radical influences its meaning.

Tips for memorizing and using 起こす.

An effective way to reinforce 起こす is to create sentences that contrast its different meanings. For example: 彼は毎朝早く妻を起こす ("He wakes his wife up early every day") versus その決定は混乱を起こした ("That decision caused confusion"). Repeating these examples out loud or writing them down on flashcards can speed up learning.

Another tip is to pay attention to news or dialogues in Japanese, where 起こす frequently appears in contexts of impact or consequences. Series and movies are also great for hearing the word in real situations, from family discussions to police dramas. Over time, the brain starts to naturally absorb its uses.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 起こす

• 起こす - base form
• 起こさない - Negative
• 起こした - Past
• 起こしています - Present Continuous
• 起こさなければならない conditional form
• 起こせる - Potential

Synonyms and similar words

• 起こる (okoru) - to happen, to occur
• 発生する (hassuru) - generate, emerge, occur (usually used in specific contexts like events)
• 生じる (shōjiru) - to result, to originate (used in more formal contexts)
• 起きる (okiru) - get up, happen (very common in everyday situations)
• 起こり得る (okoriuru) - it can happen (expresses the possibility of something happening)
• 起こりうる (okoriuru) - can occur (variation of "起こり得る")
• 起こりうございます (okoriugozai masu) - can occur (polite form of "起こり得る")

起こす

Romaji: okosu
Kana: おこす
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: rise; cause; wake up

Meaning in English: to raise;to cause;to wake someone

Definition: To provoke or cause the occurrence of a specific situation or condition.

Example Sentences - (起こす) okosu

See below some example sentences:

過密なスケジュールはストレスを引き起こす。

Kamitsu na sukejuuru wa sutoresu o hikiokosu

A very busy schedule causes stress.

Overcrowded schedule causes stress.

• 過密な - It means "densely populated" or "very full".
• スケジュール - It means "agenda" or "schedule".
• は - grammatical particle that marks the topic of the sentence.
• ストレス - It means "stress".
• を - Direct object marker in a sentence.
• 引き起こす - It means "cause" or "provoke".

細菌は病気を引き起こす可能性があります。

Saikin wa byouki wo hikiokosu kanousei ga arimasu

Bacteria can cause disease.

Bacteria can cause disease.

• 細菌 (saikin) - bacteria
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 病気 (byouki) - disease
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 引き起こす (hikiokosu) - cause, provoke
• 可能性 (kanousei) - possibility
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あります (arimasu) - exist, have

兵器は戦争を引き起こす可能性がある。

Heiki wa sensou wo hikio kosu kanousei ga aru

Weapons have the potential to cause war.

• 兵器 - weapon
• は - Topic particle
• 戦争 - war
• を - direct object particle
• 引き起こす - cause
• 可能性 - possibility
• が - subject particle
• ある - exist

私は毎朝早く起こすことができます。

Watashi wa maiasa hayaku okosu koto ga dekimasu

I can wake up early every morning.

I can wake up early every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 早く (hayaku) - adverb meaning "early"
• 起こす (okosu) - verb meaning "to wake up"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• できます (dekimasu) - Verb that means "to be able to"

この事件は大きな騒動を引き起こした。

Kono jiken wa ookina soudou wo hikiokoshita

This case caused a great deal of turmoil.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 事件 - noun meaning "incident" or "event"
• は - topic particle indicating that what follows is the main subject of the sentence
• 大きな - adjective meaning "big" or "important", followed by the linking particle "na"
• 騒動 - noun meaning "disturbance" or "confusion"
• を - object particle indicating that what follows is the direct object of the sentence
• 引き起こした - verb meaning "caused" or "provoked", conjugated in the past and followed by the ending particle "ta"