Nagasu is the Japanese verb for ‘to let something flow’, explained

What does “nagasu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “nagasu” often to mean ‘to let something flow’ 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 “nagasu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “nagasu”
  • Example #1: how to say “shed tears” in Japanese
• Nagasanai: the nai form of “nagasu”
  • Example #2: how to say “not shed tears” in Japanese
• Nagasou: the volitional form of “nagasu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s play music” in Japanese
• Nagashimasu: the masu form of “nagasu”
  • Example #4: how to say “play music” in Japanese
• Nagashita: the past tense form of “nagasu”
  • Example #5: how to say “shed” in Japanese
• Nagashite: the te form of “nagasu”
  • Example #6: how to say “please play music” in Japanese
• Nagaseba: the ba form of “nagasu”
  • Example #7: how to say “if shed” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “nagasu”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “nagasu”.

• nagasu – 流す (ながす) : a verb meaning ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this verb when they let something flow. Playing music can be considered as letting music flow in the air in Japanese, so this verb can also mean ‘to play (music)’.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. The meanings seem to be based on similar concepts. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “shed tears” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• namida – 涙 (なみだ) : a noun meaning ‘tear’ 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 “namida” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nagasu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to let something flow’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “nagasu” 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 “nagasanai”.

Nagasanai: the nai form of “nagasu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagasanai”.

• nagasanai – 流さない (ながさない) : the nai form of “nagasu”, which means ‘not to let something flow’, ‘not to flush’, ‘not to play’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagasanai” consists of the following two parts:

• nagasa – 流さ (ながさ) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagasanai” is literally the nai form of “nagasu” and means ‘not to let something flow’, ‘not to flush’, ‘not to play’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not shed tears” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagasanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to shed’ in Japanese, this nai form can be a good option.

Nagasou: the volitional form of “nagasu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagasou”.

• nagasou – 流そう (ながそう) : the volitional form of “nagasu”, which expresses volition to let something flow, flush, play, or such.

Grammatically, “nagasou” consists of the following two parts:

• nagaso – 流そ (ながそ) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagasou” is literally the volitional form of “nagasu” and expresses volition to let something flow, flush, play, 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 play music” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• ongaku – 音楽 (おんがく) : a noun meaning ‘music’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagasou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s play music” in Japanese, this example sentence is a good option.

Nagashimasu: the masu form of “nagasu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagashimasu”.

• nagashimasu – 流します (ながします) : the masu form of “nagasu”, which means ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagashimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• nagashi – 流し (ながし) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagashimasu” is literally the masu form of “nagasu” and means ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “play music” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its plural form, “kanojo tachi”, which means ‘they’ in Japanese.
• 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 “kanojo tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nagashimasu”. 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 “play music” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Nagashita: the past tense form of “nagasu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagashita”.

• nagashita – 流した (ながした) : the past tense form of “nagasu”, which means ‘let something flow’, ‘flushed’, ‘played’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagashita” consists of the following two parts:

• nagashi – 流し (ながし) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagashita” is literally the past tense form of “nagasu” and means ‘let something flow’, ‘flushed’, ‘played’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “shed” in Japanese

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” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “nagashita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nagasu”, this form is the best option.

Nagashite: the te form of “nagasu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagashite”.

• nagashite – 流して (ながして) : the te form of “nagasu”, which means ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagashite” consists of the following two parts:

• nagashi – 流し (ながし) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagashite” is literally the te form of “nagasu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nagashite” is very useful when we want to use “nagasu” 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 play music” in Japanese

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 “nagashite” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “nagashite”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “nagasu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Nagaseba: the ba form of “nagasu”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “nagaseba”.

• nagaseba – 流せば (ながせば) : the ba form of “nagasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagaseba” consists of the following two parts:

• nagase – 流せ (ながせ) : one conjugation of “nagasu”. 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 “nagaseba” is literally the ba form of “nagasu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nagaseba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if shed” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
• kanashimu – 悲しむ (かなしむ) : a verb meaning ‘to become sad’, ‘to feel sad’, or just ‘to be sad’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagaseba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kimi ga namida wo nagaseba”, which means ‘if you shed tears’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “nagasu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• nagasu – 流す (ながす) : a verb meaning ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese.
• nagasanai – 流さない (ながさない) : the nai form of “nagasu”, which means ‘not to let something flow’, ‘not to flush’, ‘not to play’, or such in Japanese.
• nagasou – 流そう (ながそう) : the volitional form of “nagasu”, which expresses volition to let something flow, flush, play, or such.
• nagashimasu – 流します (ながします) : the masu form of “nagasu”, which means ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such politely in Japanese.
• nagashita – 流した (ながした) : the past tense form of “nagasu”, which means ‘let something flow’, ‘flushed’, ‘played’, or such in Japanese.
• nagashite – 流して (ながして) : the te form of “nagasu”, which means ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “nagasu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• nagaseba – 流せば (ながせば) : the ba form of “nagasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to let something flow’, ‘to flush’, ‘to play’, or such in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.