Suru and yaru and their differences, explained with examples

Confusing verbs: “suru” and “yaru”

I know that Japanese learners quite often confuse the two widely-used verbs: “suru” and “yaru”. Both are very similar and, in fact, can be used interchangeably in many cases. Yet, they are not the same. So, in this blog post, I will explain their differences with examples. Honestly speaking, however, I can not cover all of them. Simple words are not as easy as they look. They are quite often used and therefore their usages can be easily stretched. For example, a usage considered grammatically wrong before can be accepted today. So, summarizing is not that easy. Still, I will try to explain how “suru” and “yaru” are different based on their old kanji expressions. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand these two verbs and their differences. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “suru”
• Definition and meanings of “yaru”
• Comparison of usages: “suru” and “yaru”
  • Example #1: how to use “suru” and “yaru”
  • Example #2: how to say “to breathe” with “suru”
  • Example #3: how to say “to play the piano” with “yaru”
  • Example #4: how to say “to put a tie on” with “suru”
  • Example #5: how to say “to smoke” with “yaru”
  • Example #6: how to say “to smell” with “suru”
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “suru”

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

• suru – 為る (する) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this verb to say “[someone] does [something]” in Japanese. So, in this regard, its role is similar to those of the English verbs, “do” and “does”. Its kanji expression is not in use today, but is very helpful to understand the concept behind. It is the same as the kanji of another widely-used verb, “naru”. This verb is used mainly when something changes its state spontaneously. Honestly, I’m not sure the relation between “suru” and “naru”, but the concept of this kanji seems to have an effect on the nuance of “suru”. In fact, Japanese people often use “suru” to say “[someone] does [something] by him/herself”. The spontaneity of the kanji is reflected. In addition, they also use it to say “[someone] changes [a state of something]”. The nuance of the old kanji expression still remains.

Based on these explanations, let me update the definition and meanings as follows:

• suru – 為る (する) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese. Japanese native speakers use this to say “[someone] does [something] by him/herself”. And also, they use it to say “[someone] changes [a state of something]”.

These are the very basics of “suru”.

Definition and meanings of “yaru”

Next, then, let me explain the definition and meanings of “yaru”.

• yaru – 遣る (やる) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese.

I think that explanations of “yaru” are quite similar to those of “suru” in many textbooks. Yet, these two verbs are different. The key to understanding their differences is the kanji expressions. The kanji of “yaru” used to mean ‘to give [someone] [something]’ or ‘to send [someone] [something or someone else]’. These meanings and nuances still remain. An action described by “yaru”, therefore, requires two or more persons implicitly – one subject of action and one or more objects of action. In addition, an action occurring spontaneously cannot be described by “yaru”. These rules do not always work well, but in many cases they do. So, Japanese native speakers use “yaru” to say “[someone] does [something] with attendance of someone else” or “[someone] does [something], but not voluntarily”.

Based on the explanations above, let me update the definition and meanings as follows:

• yaru – 遣る (やる) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese. Japanese native speakers use this to say “[someone] does [something] with attendance of someone else” or “[someone] does [something], but not voluntarily”.

These are the very basics of “yaru”.

Comparison of usages: “suru” and “yaru”

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain how to and how not to use “suru” and “yaru” through example sentences.

Example #1: how to use “suru” and “yaru”

Below are the new words used in the example sentences.

• nihongo – 日本語 (にほんご) : a noun meaning ‘Japanese’ or ‘the Japanese language’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to limit the meaning of its following word with the meaning of its preceding word based on relations like possessing and belonging. In the example, this is used to limit the meaning of “benkyou” with the meaning of “nihongo”. The formed phrase, “nihongo no benkyou”, can literally be translated as ‘study of Japanese’. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this particle is similar to that of “of”.
• benkyou – 勉強 (べんきょう) : a noun meaning ‘study’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after the noun phrase, “nihongo no benkyou”, to make the object word in the sentence.

These are typical usages of “suru” and “yaru”. The noun phrase, “nihongo no benkyou”, works as the object in each sentence. It can go well with either “suru” or “yaru”. Depending on the object, however, only either one of them can work well. From the next example sentence, I will explain the cases where only one works well.

Example #2: how to say “to breathe” with “suru”

Below is the new word used in the examples.

• kokyuu – 呼吸 (こきゅう) : a noun meaning ‘breath’ in Japanese.

We can breathe by ourselves and it’s a spontaneous process unless we are sick. So, “kokyuu” is suitable as the object for “suru”. On the other hand, Japanese people never say “kokyuu wo yaru” to mean ‘to breathe’. This idea can be applied to other biological functions.

As the translation shows, “suru” itself doesn’t have a specific meaning. It just works to make the verb form of the object noun. In this case, the case particle, “wo”, is used, but we can connect the noun directly to “suru”. In fact, Japanese people often say “kokyuu suru” to mean ‘to breathe’. This usage is not unique to “kokyuu”, but can be applied to other nouns as well. It’s worth knowing.

Example #3: how to say “to play the piano” with “yaru”

Below is the new word used in the examples.

• piano – ピアノ (ぴあの) : a noun meaning ‘piano’ in Japanese.

We need a piano as the object of action when we play it. So, the nuance of “yaru” is suitable for this usage. Honestly speaking, “suru” can work as well in this case. More often, however, Japanese people say “piano wo yaru” to mean ‘to play the piano’. This idea can be appleid to other instruments.

Example #4: how to say “to put a tie on” with “suru”

Below is the new word used in the examples.

• nekutai – ネクタイ (ねくたい) : a noun meaning ‘tie’ in Japanese. It originally came from the pronunciation of “necktie”. So, this is an imported word.

Also in this case, we need a tie as the object of action when we put it on. Interestingly, however, we cannot say “nekutai wo yaru”. To mean ‘to put a tie on’ in Japanese, we need to say “nekutai wo suru”. I cannot explain the reason grammatically, but perhaps it’s related to speaker’s appearance. After he/she puts a tie on, his/her appearance changes a bit. This can be considered as a change in states and therefore “suru” is more suitable. This idea can be applied to other accessories.

Example #5: how to say “to smoke” with “yaru”

Below is the new word used in the examples.

• tabako – タバコ (たばこ) : a noun meaning ‘tobacco’ or ‘cigarette’ in Japanese.

This is similar to the instrument case explained earlier. To smoke, we need at least one cigarette as the object of action. So, “yaru” is suitable. This idea can also be applied to alcoholic drinks.

Japanese people use this expression to state that they smoke as a habit. Just to mean “to smoke”, they would say “tabako wo suu” instead.

Example #6: how to say “to smell” with “suru”

Below is the new word used in the examples.

• nioi – 匂い (におい) : a noun meaning ‘smell’, ‘odor’, or such in Japanese.

In this case, “suru” and “yaru” used after the subject words. So, they work more like intransitive verbs. To say “to smell” in Japanese, we can use the verb, “niou”, but we can say the same thing with the noun, “nioi” , and the verb, “suru”. When something smells, often it does spontaneously. So, “suru” is suitable to express it. This idea can be used to other phenomena occurring spontaneously.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained “suru” and “yaru” and their differences with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• suru – 為る (する) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese. Japanese native speakers use this to say “[someone] does [something] by him/herself”. And also, they use it to say “[someone] changes [a state of something]”.
• yaru – 遣る (やる) : a verb meaning ‘to do’, ‘to perform’, or such in Japanese. Japanese native speakers use this to say “[someone] does [something] with attendance of someone else” or “[someone] does [something], but not voluntarily”.

Both kanji expressions are not in use today, but their concepts still remain. These concepts would help us to understand how to use “suru” and “yaru” properly.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.