What does “tasu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “tasu” to mean ‘to add’ 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 “tasu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “tasu”
- Tasanai: the nai form of “tasu”
- Tasou: the volitional form of “tasu”
- Tashimasu: the masu form of “tasu”
- Tashita: the ta form of “tasu”
- Tashite: the te form of “tasu”
- Taseba: the ba form of “tasu”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “tasu”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “tasu”.
- tasu – 足す (たす) : a verb meaning ‘to add’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “add” in Japanese
watashi wa itsumo satou wo tasu – 私はいつも砂糖を足す (わたしはいつもさとうをたす)
I always add some sugar.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- satou – 砂糖 (さとう) : a noun meaning ‘sugar’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “satou” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “tasu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to add’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tasu” 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 “tasanai”.
Tasanai: the nai form of “tasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasanai”.
- tasanai – 足さない (たさない) : the nai form of “tasu”, which means ‘not to add’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tasanai” consists of the following two parts:
- tasa – 足さ (たさ) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “tasanai” is literally the nai form of “tasu” and means ‘not to add’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not add” in Japanese
kanojo wa satou wo tasanai – 彼女は砂糖を足さない (かのじょはさとうをたさない)
She doesn’t add sugar.
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 “tasanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to add’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Tasou: the volitional form of “tasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tasou”.
- tasou – 足そう (たそう) : the volitional form of “tasu”, which expresses volition to add.
Grammatically, “tasou” consists of the following two parts:
- taso – 足そ (たそ) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “tasou” is literally the volitional form of “tasu” and expresses volition to add in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s add” in Japanese
gyūnyū wo tasou – 牛乳を足そう (ぎゅうにゅうをたそう)
Let’s add some milk!
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- gyūnyū – 牛乳 (ぎゅうにゅう) : a noun meaning ‘milk’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tasou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s add” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Tashimasu: the masu form of “tasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tashimasu”.
- tashimasu – 足します (たします) : the masu form of “tasu”, which means ‘to add’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tashimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- tashi – 足し (たし) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “tashimasu” is literally the masu form of “tasu” and means ‘to add’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “add” politely in Japanese
watashi no imouto wa tokidoki tounyū wo tashimasu – 私の妹は時々豆乳を足します (わたしのいもうとはときどきとうにゅうをたします)
My little sister sometimes adds some soy milk.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
- imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
- tounyū – 豆乳 (とうにゅう) : a noun meaning ‘soy milk’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tashimasu”. 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 “add” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Tashita: the ta form of “tasu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tashita”.
- tashita – 足した (たした) : the past tense form of “tasu”, which means ‘added’, ‘have added’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tashita” consists of the following two parts:
- tashi – 足し (たし) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “tashita” is literally the past tense form of “tasu” and means ‘added’, ‘have added’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “added” in Japanese
boku wa kesa kurīmu wo tashita – 僕は今朝クリームを足した (ぼくはけさくりーむをたした)
I added some cream this morning.
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.
- kesa – 今朝 (けさ) : a noun meaning ‘this morning’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “this morning” in Japanese.
- kurīmu – クリーム (くりーむ) : a noun meaning ‘cream’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tashita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “tasu”, this form is the best option.
Tashite: the te form of “tasu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “tashite”.
- tashite – 足して (たして) : the te form of “tasu”, which means ‘to add’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tashite” consists of the following two parts:
- tashi – 足し (たし) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “tashite” is literally the te form of “tasu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tashite” is very useful when we want to use “tasu” 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 add” in Japanese
kōhī ni kurīmu wo tashite kudasai – コーヒーにクリームを足してください (こーひーにくりーむをたしてください)
Please add some cream to my coffee.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kōhī – コーヒー (こーひー) : a noun meaning ‘coffee’ in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “kōhī” to indicate the object to which some cream should be added.
- 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 “tashite” to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tashite”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “tasu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Taseba: the ba form of “tasu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “taseba”.
- taseba – 足せば (たせば) : the ba form of “tasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to add’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “taseba” consists of the following two parts:
- tase – 足せ (たせ) : one conjugation of “tasu”. 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 “taseba” is literally the ba form of “tasu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “taseba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to add’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if add” in Japanese
kōhī ni kurīmu wo taseba, oishiku naru – コーヒーにクリームを足せば、美味しくなる (こーひーにくりーむをたせば、おいしくなる)
If you add some cream to your coffee, it’ll be delicious.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- oishiku – 美味しく (おいしく) : one conjugation of the i-adjective, “oishii“, which means ‘delicious’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with “naru”.
- naru – なる : a verb meaning ‘to become’, ‘to turn’, ‘to get’, or just ‘to be’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “taseba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kōhī ni kurīmu wo taseba”, which means ‘if you add some cream to your coffee’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to add’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tasu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- tasu – 足す (たす) : a verb meaning ‘to add’ in Japanese.
- tasanai – 足さない (たさない) : the nai form of “tasu”, which means ‘not to add’ in Japanese.
- tasou – 足そう (たそう) : the volitional form of “tasu”, which expresses volition to add.
- tashimasu – 足します (たします) : the masu form of “tasu”, which means ‘to add’ politely in Japanese.
- tashita – 足した (たした) : the past tense form of “tasu”, which means ‘added’, ‘have added’, or such in Japanese.
- tashite – 足して (たして) : the te form of “tasu”, which means ‘to add’ in Japanese. When we want to use “tasu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- taseba – 足せば (たせば) : the ba form of “tasu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to add’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.