What does “kesu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “kesu” often to mean ‘to delete’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb 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 use “kesu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “kesu”
- Kesanai: the nai form of “kesu”
- Kesou: the volitional form of “kesu”
- Keshimasu: the masu form of “kesu”
- Keshita: the past tense form of “kesu”
- Keshite: the te form of “kesu”
- Keseba: the ba form of “kesu”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “kesu”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kesu”.
- kesu – 消す (けす) : a verb meaning ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
Japanese native speakers use this verb when they make something visible invisible or when they make something perceptible imperceptible.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “delete” in Japanese
boku wa tokidoki shashin wo kesu – 僕は時々写真を消す (ぼくはときどきしゃしんをけす)
I sometimes delete my pictures.
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.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- shashin – 写真 (しゃしん) : a noun meaning ‘picture’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “shashin” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “kesu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to delete’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kesu” 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 “kesanai”.
Kesanai: the nai form of “kesu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kesanai”.
- kesanai – 消さない (けさない) : the nai form of “kesu”, which means ‘not to delete’, ‘not to erase’, ‘not to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kesanai” consists of the following two parts:
- kesa – 消さ (けさ) : one conjugation of “kesu”. 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 “kesanai” is literally the nai form of “kesu” and means ‘not to delete’, ‘not to erase’, ‘not to turn off’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not delete” in Japanese
kanojo wa shashin wo kesanai – 彼女は写真を消さない (かのじょはしゃしんをけさない)
She doesn’t delete pictures.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “kesanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to delete’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Kesou: the volitional form of “kesu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kesou”.
- kesou – 消そう (けそう) : the volitional form of “kesu”, which expresses volition to delete, erase, turn off, or such.
Grammatically, “kesou” consists of the following two parts:
- keso – 消そ (けそ) : one conjugation of “kesu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kesou” is literally the volitional form of “kesu” and expresses volition to delete, erase, turn off, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s turn off” in Japanese
akari wo kesou – 明かりを消そう (あかりをけそう)
Let’s turn off the lights.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- akari – 明かり (あかり) : a noun meaning ‘light’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kesou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s turn off” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Keshimasu: the masu form of “kesu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “keshimasu”.
- keshimasu – 消します (けします) : the masu form of “kesu”, which means ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “keshimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- keshi – 消し (けし) : one conjugation of “kesu”. 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 “keshimasu” is literally the masu form of “kesu” and means ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “turn off” politely in Japanese
watashi wa itsumo akari wo keshimasu – 私はいつも明かりを消します (わたしはいつもあかりをけします)
I always turn off the lights.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “keshimasu”. 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 “turn off” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Keshita: the past tense form of “kesu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “keshita”.
- keshita – 消した (けした) : the past tense form of “kesu”, which means ‘deleted’, ‘erased’, ‘turned off’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “keshita” consists of the following two parts:
- keshi – 消し (けし) : one conjugation of “kesu”. 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.
From these two parts, we can understand that “keshita” is literally the past tense form of “kesu” and means ‘deleted’, ‘erased’, ‘turned off’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “deleted” in Japanese
kanojo mo ano shashin wo keshita – 彼女もあの写真を消した (かのじょもあのしゃしんをけした)
She deleted that picture, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
- ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “shashin” to say “that picture” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “keshita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kesu”, this form is the best option.
Keshite: the te form of “kesu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “keshite”.
- keshite – 消して (けして) : the te form of “kesu”, which means ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “keshite” consists of the following two parts:
- keshi – 消し (けし) : one conjugation of “kesu”. 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 “keshite” is literally the te form of “kesu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “keshite” is very useful when we want to use “kesu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please turn off” in Japanese
ongaku wo keshite kudasai – 音楽を消してください (おんがくをけしてください)
Please turn off the music.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ongaku – 音楽 (おんがく) : a noun meaning ‘music’ in Japanese.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “keshite” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “keshite”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kesu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Keseba: the ba form of “kesu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “keseba”.
- keseba – 消せば (けせば) : the ba form of “kesu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “keseba” consists of the following two parts:
- kese – 消せ (けせ) : one conjugation of “kesu”. 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 “keseba” is literally the ba form of “kesu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “keseba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if turn off” in Japanese
akari wo keseba, hoshi ga mieru – 明かりを消せば、星が見える (あかりをけせば、ほしがみえる)
If you turn off the lights, you can see the stars.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- hoshi – 星 (ほし) : a noun meaning ‘star’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “hoshi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- mieru – 見える (みえる) : a verb meaning ‘to appear’, ‘to be seen’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “keseba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “akari wo keseba”, which means ‘if you turn off the lights’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kesu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kesu – 消す (けす) : a verb meaning ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
- kesanai – 消さない (けさない) : the nai form of “kesu”, which means ‘not to delete’, ‘not to erase’, ‘not to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
- kesou – 消そう (けそう) : the volitional form of “kesu”, which expresses volition to delete, erase, turn off, or such.
- keshimasu – 消します (けします) : the masu form of “kesu”, which means ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such politely in Japanese.
- keshita – 消した (けした) : the past tense form of “kesu”, which means ‘deleted’, ‘erased’, ‘turned off’, or such in Japanese.
- keshite – 消して (けして) : the te form of “kesu”, which means ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “kesu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- keseba – 消せば (けせば) : the ba form of “kesu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to delete’, ‘to erase’, ‘to turn off’, or such in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
