What does “akirameru” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “akirameru” to mean ‘to give up’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “akirameru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “akirameru”
- Akiramenai: the nai form of “akirameru”
- Akirameyou: the volitional form of “akirameru”
- Akiramemasu: the masu form of “akirameru”
- Akirameta: the ta form of “akirameru”
- Akiramete: the te form of “akirameru”
- Akiramereba: the ba form of “akirameru”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “akirameru”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “akirameru”.
- akirameru – 諦める (あきらめる) : a verb meaning ‘to give up’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are very simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “give up” in Japanese
hito wa yume wo akirameru – 人は夢を諦める (ひとはゆめをあきらめる)
People give up their dreams.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- hito – 人 (ひと) : a noun meaning ‘person’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “hito” to make the subject in the sentence.
- yume – 夢 (ゆめ) : a noun meaning ‘dream’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “yume” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “akirameru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to say “give up something” in Japanese, this combination is a good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “akirameru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “akiramenai”.
Akiramenai: the nai form of “akirameru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “akiramenai”.
- akiramenai – 諦めない (あきらめない) : the nai form of “akirameru”, which means ‘not to give up’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “akiramenai” consists of the following two parts:
- akirame – 諦め (あきらめ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akiramenai” is literally the nai form of “akirameru” and means ‘not to give up’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t give up” in Japanese
boku tachi wa akiramenai – 僕達は諦めない (ぼくたちはあきらめない)
We don’t give up.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “akiramenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to give up’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Akirameyou: the volitional form of “akirameru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “akirameyou”.
- akirameyou – 諦めよう (あきらめよう) : the volitional form of “akirameru”, which expresses volition to give up.
Grammatically, “akirameyou” consists of the following two parts:
- akirame – 諦め (あきらめ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
- you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akirameyou” is literally the volitional form of “akirameru” and expresses volition to give up. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s give up” in Japanese
kono keikaku wo akirameyou – この計画を諦めよう (このけいかくをあきらめよう)
Let’s give up this plan.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “keikaku” to say “this plan” in Japanese.
- keikaku – 計画 (けいかく) : a noun meaning ‘plan’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “akirameyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s give up” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Akiramemasu: the masu form of “akirameru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “akiramemasu”.
- akiramemasu – 諦めます (あきらめます) : the masu form of “akirameru”, which means ‘to give up’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “akiramemasu” consists of the following two parts:
- akirame – 諦め (あきらめ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akiramemasu” is literally the masu form of “akirameru” and means ‘to give up’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “give up” politely in Japanese
kono kuni no kodomo tachi wa yume wo akiramemasu – この国の子供達は夢を諦めます (このくにのこどもたちはゆめをあきらめます)
The children in this country give up their dreams.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kuni – 国 (くに) : a noun meaning ‘country’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “kono kuni” and “kodomo tachi”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the children in this country’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions.
- kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “akiramemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “give up” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Akirameta: the ta form of “akirameru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “akirameta”.
- akirameta – 諦めた (あきらめた) : the ta form of “akirameta”, which means ‘gave up’, ‘have given up’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “akirameta” consists of the following two parts:
- akirame – 諦め (あきらめ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akirameta” is literally the ta form of “akirameru” and means ‘gave up’, ‘have given up’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “gave up” in Japanese
kanojo wa jinsei wo akirameta – 彼女は人生を諦めた (かのじょはじんせいをあきらめた)
She gave up her life.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- jinsei – 人生 (じんせい) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “akirameta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “akirameru”, this ta form is the best option.
Akiramete: the te form of “akirameru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “akiramete”.
- akiramete – 諦めて (あきらめて) : the te form of “akirameru”, which means ‘to give up’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “akiramete” consists of the following two parts:
- akirame – 諦め (あきらめ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akiramete” is literally the te form of “akirameru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make a chronological order in a sentence. So, “akiramete” is very useful when we want to implement the order into a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to give up’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “give up and then” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa yume wo akiramete otona ni naru – 私達は夢を諦めて大人になる (わたしたちはゆめをあきらめておとなになる)
We give up our dreams and then become adults.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- otona – 大人 (おとな) : a noun meaning ‘adult’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say what someone or something becomes after a change or action. In the example, this is used after “otona” to say what the speakers become after the action.
- naru – なる : a verb meaning ‘to become’, ‘to turn’, ‘to get’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “akiramete”. In the example, it makes the chronological order in the sentence. When we want to implement a chronological order into a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to give up’ in Japanese, this te form is a good option.
Akiramereba: the ba form of “akirameru”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “akiramereba”.
- akiramereba – 諦めれば (あきらめれば) : the ba form of “akiramereba”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to give up’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “akiramereba” consists of the following two parts:
- akiramere – 諦めれ (あきらめれ) : one conjugation of “akirameru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “akiramereba” is literally the ba form of “akirameru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “akiramereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to give up’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if give up” in Japanese
ima akiramereba, kimi wa koukai suru yo – 今諦めれば、君は後悔するよ (いまあきらめれば、きみはこうかいするよ)
If you give up now, you will regret it.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
- kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- koukai suru – 後悔する (こうかいする) : a verb meaning ‘to regret’ in Japanese.
- yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the example sentence to state the speaker’s idea softly.
This is a typical usage of “akiramereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima akiramereba”, which means ‘if you give up now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to give up’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
I’ve explained the definition and meaning of ‘akirameru’ together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- akirameru – 諦める (あきらめる) : a verb meaning ‘to give up’ in Japanese.
- akiramenai – 諦めない (あきらめない) : the nai form of “akirameru”, which means ‘not to give up’ in Japanese.
- akirameyou – 諦めよう (あきらめよう) : the volitional form of “akirameru”, which expresses volition to give up.
- akiramemasu – 諦めます (あきらめます) : the masu form of “akirameru”, which means ‘to give up’ politely in Japanese.
- akirameta – 諦めた (あきらめた) : the ta form of “akirameta”, which means ‘gave up’, ‘have given up’, or such in Japanese.
- akiramete – 諦めて (あきらめて) : the te form of “akirameru”, which means ‘to give up’ in Japanese. When we want to implement a chronological order into a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to give up’ in Japanese, this te form is a good option.
- akiramereba – 諦めれば (あきらめれば) : the ba form of “akiramereba”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to give up’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.