成なす

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

form; make up; constitute

Used when elements form or constitute a shape, group, structure, or whole. More formal and written-sounding than everyday なる or できる.

• 三みっつの要よう素そが一ひとつの体たい系けいを成なしている。

  The three elements form a single system.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

build up; create; establish

Common in set-like written collocations such as 財を成す, meaning to build up a fortune, position, house, or other achievement over time.

• 祖そ父ふは一いち代だいで財ざいを成なした。

  My grandfather built up a fortune in a single generation.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

accomplish; achieve; make a name

Used for achieving something significant or gaining recognition, especially in formal phrases such as 名を成す and 大業を成す.

• 彼かれは若わかくして文ぶん壇だんに名なを成なした。

  He made a name for himself in the literary world at a young age.

• 彼かれらは長なが年ねんの努ど力りょくで大だい事じ業ぎょうを成なした。

  Through many years of effort, they accomplished a great undertaking.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

turn into; convert into; make into

Formal construction used as AをBと成す, meaning to turn A into B or make A into B. The と is part of the learner-important pattern.

• 彼かれは逆ぎゃっ境きょうを成せい長ちょうの糧かてと成なした。

  He turned adversity into nourishment for growth.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

do; carry out; commit; bring about

Formal or literary equivalent of する in expressions such as なすべきことをなす. For this sense, kana なす or 為す is often clearer than 成す.

• 今いまは自じ分ぶんのなすべきことをなすだけだ。

  For now, I will simply do what I must do.

• 悪あく事じを為なした者ものは裁さばかれる。

  Those who committed evil deeds will be judged.

suffix, godan verb (-su)

do deliberately; perform intentionally

Limited suffix-like use after the masu-stem of a verb. It is usually written in kana and is mostly seen in established or old-fashioned compounds rather than freely used with any verb.

• 「言いいなす」のように、なすは動どう詞しの連れん用よう形けいに付つくことがある。

  As in 言いなす, なす can attach to the continuative stem of a verb.