Word
現す
Meaning in Englishshow, reveal, make visible
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
現す means to bring into sight or make perceptible by presenting or expressing something that exists or is imagined, turning it into a visible or tangible form.
Main meanings
- to reveal something hidden or not yet visible
- to express or display an emotion, quality, or fact through action, speech, or appearance
- to manifest or demonstrate a phenomenon in a tangible or narrative sense
- to indicate or show something indirectly through description or portrayal
How to use it
Used as a transitive verb in formal and everyday contexts to reveal or make visible; common in written narrative, journalism, and technical writing; structured as Xを現す with concrete objects or ideas; in casual speech speakers may prefer 表す or 見せる for similar meaning.
Variants and close terms
- 表す (arawasu) — to express, reveal
- 示す (shimesu) — to indicate, demonstrate
- 顕す (arawasu) — to reveal, make apparent (rare)
Composition
- 現: present, appear, reality
- す: verb-ending that turns the word into a verb
Etymology
現 denotes the present or appearance, and す is the verb ending; together they form a native Japanese verb meaning to make something present or to reveal.
Word class
verb (godan)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
現像
genzou
developing (film)
N1
現地
genchi
actual place, local
N1
再現
saigen
reproduction, return, revival
N1
現行
genkou
present, current, in operation
N1
出現
shutsugen
appearance, arrival
N2
現～
gen～
present, incumbent
N2
現に
genni
actually, really
N3
実現
jitsugen
realization, implementation
N3
現れ
araware
appearance, sign, expression