Word
生かす
Meaning in Englishto keep something alive; to make use of
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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)
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