What does “mezasu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “mezasu” to mean ‘to aim’ 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 “mezasu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “mezasu”
- Mezasanai: the nai form of “mezasu”
- Mezasou: the volitional form of “mezasu”
- Mezashimasu: the masu form of “mezasu”
- Mezashita: the past tense form of “mezasu”
- Mezashite: the te form of “mezasu”
- Mezaseba: the ba form of “mezasu”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “mezasu”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “mezasu”.
- mezasu – 目指す (めざす) : a verb meaning ‘to aim’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “aim” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa ii mirai wo mezasu – 私達は良い未来を目指す (わたしたちはいいみらいをめざす)
We aim for a better future.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- ii – 良い (いい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘good’ in Japanese.
- mirai – 未来 (みらい) : a noun meaning ‘future’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “ii mirai” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “mezasu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to aim’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “mezasu” 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 “mezasanai”.
Mezasanai: the nai form of “mezasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “mezasanai”.
- mezasanai – 目指さない (めざさない) : the nai form of “mezasu”, which means ‘not to aim’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mezasanai” consists of the following two parts:
- mezasa – 目指さ (めざさ) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezasanai” is literally the nai form of “mezasu” and means ‘not to aim’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not aim” in Japanese
boku wa kanpeki wo mezasanai – 僕は完璧を目指さない (ぼくはかんぺきをめざさない)
I don’t aim for perfection.
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.
- kanpeki – 完璧 (かんぺき) : a noun meaning ‘perfection’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mezasanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to aim’ in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.
Mezasou: the volitional form of “mezasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “mezasou”.
- mezasou – 目指そう (めざそう) : the volitional form of “mezasu”, which expresses volition to aim.
Grammatically, “mezasou” consists of the following two parts:
- mezaso – 目指そ (めざそ) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezasou” is literally the volitional form of “mezasu” and expresses volition to aim in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s aim” in Japanese
ii seikatsu wo mezasou – 良い生活を目指そう (いいせいかつをめざそう)
Let’s aim for a better life!
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- seikatsu – 生活 (せいかつ) : a noun meaning ‘life’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mezasou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s aim” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Mezashimasu: the masu form of “mezasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “mezashimasu”.
- mezashimasu – 目指します (めざします) : the masu form of “mezasu”, which means ‘to aim’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mezashimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- mezashi – 目指し (めざし) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezashimasu” is literally the masu form of “mezasu” and means ‘to aim’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “aim” politely in Japanese
kanojo tachi wa tsuki wo mezashimasu – 彼女達は月を目指します (かのじょたちはつきをめざします)
They aim for the moon.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- tsuki – 月 (つき) : a noun meaning ‘moon’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mezashimasu”. 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 “aim” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Mezashita: the past tense form of “mezasu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “mezashita”.
- mezashita – 目指した (めざした) : the past tense form of “mezasu”, which means ‘aimed’ or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mezashita” consists of the following two parts:
- mezashi – 目指し (めざし) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezashita” is literally the past tense form of “mezasu” and means ‘aimed’ or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “aimed” in Japanese
watashi tachi mo tsuki wo mezashita – 私達も月を目指した (わたしたちもつきをめざした)
We aimed for the moon, too.
Below is the new word 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 “watashi tachi” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
This is a typical usage of “mezashita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “mezasu”, this form is the best option.
Mezashite: the te form of “mezasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “mezashite”.
- mezashite – 目指して (めざして) : the te form of “mezasu”, which means ‘to aim’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mezashite” consists of the following two parts:
- mezashi – 目指し (めざし) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezashite” is literally the te form of “mezasu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “mezashite” is very useful when we want to use “mezasu” 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 aim” in Japanese
kanpeki wo mezashite kudasai – 完璧を目指してください (かんぺきをめざしてください)
Please aim for perfection.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- 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 “mezashite” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “mezashite”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “mezasu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Mezaseba: the ba form of “mezasu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “mezaseba”.
- mezaseba – 目指せば (めざせば) : the ba form of “mezasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to aim’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mezaseba” consists of the following two parts:
- mezase – 目指せ (めざせ) : one conjugation of “mezasu”. 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 “mezaseba” is literally the ba form of “mezasu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “mezaseba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to aim’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if aim” in Japanese
ima kanpeki wo mezaseba, shippai suru yo – 今完璧を目指せば、失敗するよ (いまかんぺきをめざせば、しっぱいするよ)
If you aim for perfection now, you will fail.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
- shippai suru – 失敗する (しっぱいする) : a verb meaning ‘to fail’ or such 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 “mezaseba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima kanpeki wo mezaseba”, which means ‘if you aim for perfection now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to aim’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “mezasu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- mezasu – 目指す (めざす) : a verb meaning ‘to aim’ in Japanese.
- mezasanai – 目指さない (めざさない) : the nai form of “mezasu”, which means ‘not to aim’ in Japanese.
- mezasou – 目指そう (めざそう) : the volitional form of “mezasu”, which expresses volition to aim.
- mezashimasu – 目指します (めざします) : the masu form of “mezasu”, which means ‘to aim’ politely in Japanese.
- mezashita – 目指した (めざした) : the past tense form of “mezasu”, which means ‘aimed’ or such in Japanese.
- mezashite – 目指して (めざして) : the te form of “mezasu”, which means ‘to aim’ in Japanese. When we want to use “mezasu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- mezaseba – 目指せば (めざせば) : the ba form of “mezasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to aim’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
