Word
生かす
Meaning in Englishto keep something alive; to make use of
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Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 生かす mean? It means to keep alive or to make the most of something. In use, it denotes sustaining life or applying a resource, skill, or opportunity effectively to produce a desired result.
Main meanings
- keep alive or sustain life
- make use of a resource, skill, or experience effectively
- bring something to life or revitalize it
- capitalize on an advantage or opportunity
How to use it
Used across registers with wide applicability; common collocations include 命を生かす, 経験を生かす, 資源を生かす.
Variants and close terms
- 活かす, ikasu, to utilize
- 活用する, katsuyō suru, to leverage, to apply actively
- 利用する, riyō suru, to use
Composition
- 生 — life, living
- かす — kana suffix indicating causing or bringing about; attaches to 生 to form the transitive verb
Etymology
生 ikasu combines 生 (life) with a postfix reading かす to form a verb that conveys enabling life or applying vitality.
Word class
Verb (transitive) (動詞, 他動詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
再生
saisei
playback, regeneration, resuscitation
N1
生臭い
namagusai
smelling of fish or blood, fish or meat
N1
生温い
namanurui
lukewarm, halfhearted
N1
生身
namami
living flesh, flesh and blood, the quick
N1
生まれつき
umaretsuki
by nature, by birth, native
N1
生真面目
kimajime
serious, sincerity
N1
生き甲斐
ikigai
something one lives for, very important
N1
(花を〜) 生ける, 活ける
(hanao～) ikeru
to arrange (flowers)
N1
新入生
shinnyuusei
new student, first-year student, freshman
Kanji