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促す (うながす, unagasu) Japanese meaning: urge | Kotomora
Common word› JLPT N1 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation 促す · godan verb (-su)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 促うなが す 促うなが さない Polite 促うなが します 促うなが しません Past polite 促うなが しました 促うなが しませんでした Past 促うなが した 促うなが さなかった Te-form 促うなが して 促うなが さないで Desire 促うなが したい 促うなが したくない Potential 促うなが せる 促うなが せない Passive 促うなが される 促うなが されない Causative 促うなが させる 促うなが させない Causative passive 促うなが させられる 促うなが させられない Volitional 促うなが そう Polite volitional 促うなが しましょう Imperative 促うなが せ 促うなが すな Conditional 促うなが せば 促うなが さなければ Tara conditional 促うなが したら 促うなが さなかったら
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質しつ
問もん
する
よう
に
促うなが
し
た
。
The teacher urged the students to ask questions.
His boss pressed him to make a decision quickly.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 に 〈 事こと 〉 を 促うなが す to urge someone to do something
The teacher prompted the student to speak up.
〈 事こと 〉 の 成せい 長ちょう を 促うなが す to promote the growth of something
This fertilizer promotes plant growth.
決けつ 断だん を 促うなが す to press someone to make a decision
The boss urged a prompt decision.
〈 事こと 〉 の 発はっ 展てん を 促うなが す to stimulate the development of something
The new policy stimulated the development of the regional economy.
Expressions 猛もう 省せい を 促うなが す urge someone to reflect deeply; call for serious self-reflection Related words· 12 勧める means to recommend or suggest something to someone, while 促す means to urge someone into action or speech.
刺激する describes a stronger, more direct stimulation (physical or mental), while 促す is a milder word for encouraging a process or action.
催促する is a more insistent, direct demand for someone to act (e.g. pay a debt), whereas 促す is a softer, more general urging.
促進する is a more formal, technical word for accelerating a process (e.g. economic growth), while 促す can be used in both everyday and formal contexts.
Show 8 more 促す means to urge or prompt someone directly and often quickly, while 働きかける suggests a sustained effort to approach or influence a target over time.
促す is a verb meaning to directly urge or prompt someone, while 働きかけ is the noun for the broader act of influencing or encouraging.
促す is broader and more formal, meaning to prompt or urge someone to act, while 急かす specifically means to rush someone because of time pressure.
Opposites 抑制する means to suppress or hold back a process, the opposite of 促す's sense of stimulating or accelerating growth.
促す means to encourage or promote progress, the opposite of 妨げる, which hinders or delays it.
促す means to urge or encourage progress, the opposite of 阻む, which blocks or hinders it.
Don't confuse with 促す (うながす, 'to urge/prompt') has a visually similar kanji to 捉える but means something entirely different—prompting action rather than catching or grasping.
促す is a neutral verb meaning to urge or prompt someone to act, whereas そそのかす specifically implies pushing someone toward something wrong or unwise.
Written forms 促うなが す Usage 82%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
うながす Usage 18%
Etymology The kanji 促 combines 人 (person) and 足 (foot), suggesting urging someone forward. The reading うながす is of native Japanese origin, with uncertain further derivation.
せい
N1
促す is the everyday verb for prompting or urging something to happen, whereas 促成 is a technical noun/verb used mainly in agricultural contexts for speeding up growth.
促す is a milder, more neutral word for prompting or encouraging someone to act, whereas 駆る implies a stronger, often emotional or forceful push.
促す means to prompt or urge someone toward an action, while 呼びかける emphasizes making a public or direct appeal.
促す means to prompt or spur something into action, while 助ける in this sense means to facilitate or aid a process already underway.
促す means to prompt or spur someone/something into action, while 誘う in its 'arouse' sense focuses on unintentionally triggering an emotion or reaction like tears or laughter.
