〜出す

§ What Does 〜出す Mean?

The auxiliary verb 〜出す (dasu) is a really common and useful part of Japanese. You attach it to the ます (masu) stem of a verb, and it adds the nuance of starting to do something suddenly, or beginning to do something unexpectedly. Think of it as a sudden burst of action or the initiation of an event. It implies that the action wasn't necessarily planned or was spontaneous.

DEFINITION

To start doing suddenly; to begin to (auxiliary verb).

When you see 〜出す, your brain should immediately think, "Okay, this action just began, and probably quite abruptly." It's not about a slow, gradual start, but more of a sudden onset. This is a key difference from other ways to express starting an action in Japanese.

§ How to Form 〜出す

The formation is straightforward:

• Take a verb.
• Change it to its ます (masu) stem form (remove the ます).
• Add 〜出す.

For example:

• 食べる (taberu - to eat) → 食べます (tabemasu) → 食べ (tabe) + 出す → 食べ出す (tabe dasu - to start eating suddenly)
• 走る (hashiru - to run) → 走ります (hashirimasu) → 走り (hashiri) + 出す → 走り出す (hashiri dasu - to start running suddenly)
• 泣く (naku - to cry) → 泣きます (nakimasu) → 泣き (naki) + 出す → 泣き出す (naki dasu - to burst into tears)

§ When Do People Use It?

〜出す is used in various situations where an action begins suddenly or unexpectedly. Here are some common contexts:

1. Sudden, Unexpected Actions: This is the most common use. It emphasizes the abruptness of the start.

Hint: The child suddenly burst into tears.

Hint: It started raining suddenly.

2. The Beginning of an Action: While 'sudden' is often present, it can also just mark the commencement, especially when something was expected to start but then actually does.

Hint: She started talking (perhaps after a long silence).

Hint: The engine started moving/running.

3. Emotional Outbursts: It's very common with verbs related to expressing emotions, like crying, laughing, or getting angry.

Hint: He suddenly burst out laughing.

4. Movement: When something begins to move suddenly.

Hint: The train started moving.

In summary, 〜出す is a powerful auxiliary verb that adds a dynamic sense of sudden beginning to an action. It's frequently used in daily conversation and media, so mastering it will greatly improve your understanding and naturalness in Japanese.

Let's talk about some common pitfalls when using 〜出す (dasu). This auxiliary verb is really useful for expressing sudden beginnings, but it's easy to make mistakes if you're not careful. We'll cover some of the most frequent errors and how to avoid them.

§ Mistake 1: Confusing 〜出す (dasu) with 〜始める (hajimeru)

This is a big one. Both mean 'to begin' or 'to start,' but they have different nuances. 〜始める (hajimeru) is a general verb for starting an action, without the suddenness or spontaneity that 〜出す (dasu) implies.

DEFINITION

〜出す (dasu): To start doing suddenly; to begin to (auxiliary verb).

DEFINITION

〜始める (hajimeru): To begin; to start.

If you use 〜始める (hajimeru) when you mean to convey a sudden start, your sentence might sound a bit unnatural or lack the intended impact.

Here, 〜出し (dashi) emphasizes the suddenness of his speaking. If you said 「話し始めた」(hanashi hajimeta), it would just mean he started talking, without the emphasis on it being sudden.

§ Mistake 2: Attaching 〜出す (dasu) to nouns or non-verb stems

〜出す (dasu) is an auxiliary verb, which means it attaches to the masu-stem of a verb. You can't just put it after a noun or an adjective.

Incorrect:

• 彼は急に笑い出す本。(Kare wa kyū ni warai dasu hon.) - This is wrong. You can't attach it to a noun like 'book'.
• 彼は急に美しい出す。(Kare wa kyū ni utsukushii dasu.) - This is wrong. You can't attach it to an adjective stem.

Correct usage:

Here, 笑い (warai) is the masu-stem of the verb 笑う (warau - to laugh).

§ Mistake 3: Overusing 〜出す (dasu)

While 〜出す (dasu) is great for emphasizing suddenness, not every starting action is sudden. If you use it too often, your writing can sound repetitive or overly dramatic.

Consider the context. If an action is a planned start or a gradual beginning, 〜始める (hajimeru) or other expressions might be more appropriate.

For example, if you're talking about starting to study for an exam, it's usually not a sudden event:

Using 「勉強し出す」(benkyō shidasu) here would sound a bit odd, implying a sudden burst into studying, which might not be what you mean.

§ Mistake 4: Misunderstanding implied direction

While 〜出す (dasu) literally includes 'to put out' or 'to take out,' this directional meaning isn't usually present when it functions as an auxiliary verb for starting an action. Focus on the 'sudden start' aspect.

For example, if someone 「走り出す」(hashiridasu - starts running suddenly), it doesn't mean they are running *out* of somewhere. It simply means the act of running began suddenly.

Don't get caught up trying to find a physical 'out' direction. The '出し' (dashi) here primarily conveys the inception of an action.

They aren't laughing 'out' of somewhere; their laughter simply began suddenly.

By keeping these points in mind, you'll be able to use 〜出す (dasu) more accurately and naturally in your Japanese conversations and writing. Practice makes perfect, so try to incorporate it into your sentences when you want to express that sudden burst of activity!

§ Understanding ~出す (dasu)

When you add the auxiliary verb ～出す (dasu) to the stem of another verb, it indicates that an action begins suddenly or abruptly. Think of it as 'to start doing (suddenly)' or 'to begin to'. It emphasizes the unexpected or immediate onset of an action.

Definition

To start doing suddenly; to begin to (auxiliary verb).

*Hint: The baby suddenly started crying.

*Hint: Once he starts talking, no one can stop him.

§ ~出す (dasu) vs. ~始める (hajimeru)

You might be thinking, "Doesn't ～始める (hajimeru) also mean 'to start'?" Yes, it does! However, there's a key difference in nuance. Both indicate the beginning of an action, but ～出す (dasu) specifically implies a sudden, often unexpected, or energetic start, while ～始める (hajimeru) is more neutral and simply states that an action has commenced.

~始める (hajimeru)

To begin; to start (neutral beginning).

Consider these examples:

• 雨が降り出した。(The rain suddenly started falling.) - This suggests the rain came on quickly or unexpectedly.

• 雨が降り始めた。(The rain started falling.) - This simply states that the rain began, without the emphasis on suddenness.

§ ~出す (dasu) vs. ~かかる (kakaru)

Another verb you might encounter when talking about beginnings is ～かかる (kakaru). This one is less about starting an action and more about being in the process of starting, or being on the verge of starting something. It suggests an action is *about to begin* or *in the middle of starting*, but hasn't fully commenced yet.

~かかる (kakaru)

To be about to do; to begin to; to be on the verge of.

Let's look at an example:

*Hint: I was about to start my homework, but I got sleepy and stopped.

Here, 宿題をやりかけた emphasizes that the action of doing homework was in its initial phase, or was just about to fully start, but was interrupted.

§ When to use ~出す (dasu)

You should use ～出す (dasu) when you want to convey the idea of an action kicking off suddenly, unexpectedly, or with a burst of energy. It's often used with actions that are involuntary or happen without much conscious effort, like crying, laughing, running, or talking. It can also imply a sense of newness or surprise.

Consider scenarios like:

• Something or someone suddenly makes a sound.

• A person begins an action with vigor.

• An unexpected event starts to unfold.

*Hint: He suddenly started running.

*Hint: She burst out laughing (suddenly started laughing).