します

The Japanese verb します (shimasu) is perhaps the most versatile and essential word in the entire Japanese language. At its most fundamental level, it translates to 'to do' or 'to perform' an action. However, its utility extends far beyond a simple translation. In Japanese linguistics, it is classified as an irregular verb (Group 3 or 'Sa-hen' verb), and it serves as the polite form of the dictionary verb suru. Because Japanese culture places a high premium on politeness in daily interactions, shimasu is the version you will use most frequently when speaking to teachers, colleagues, strangers, or anyone you wish to show respect toward. It is the 'Swiss Army Knife' of verbs because it can transform thousands of nouns into active verbs just by being placed after them. For example, the noun benkyou (study) becomes benkyou shimasu (to study). This flexibility allows learners to express a vast range of activities without needing to memorize thousands of unique verb conjugations.

Core Function

The primary role of shimasu is to denote the performance of an action, whether it is a general task or a specific activity like a hobby or sport.

Politeness Level

It is the teineigo (polite) form, making it suitable for standard conversation in professional and social settings.

Beyond 'doing' a task, shimasu is used to indicate playing sports or games. While English uses 'play' for soccer and 'do' for karate, Japanese consistently uses shimasu for both. If you are engaging in a competitive or recreational activity, this is your go-to verb. Furthermore, it is used to describe wearing accessories that are not 'slipped on' like clothes (which use kiru) but rather 'put on' or 'affixed' to the body, such as neckties, watches, or jewelry. This nuance is vital for A1 learners to grasp early on to avoid common 'clothing verb' errors.

Another fascinating use of shimasu involves sensory experiences. When you perceive a smell, a sound, or a taste, Japanese speakers do not usually say 'I smell it' in the same way English speakers do. Instead, they say 'A smell does' (Nioi ga shimasu). This reflects a linguistic worldview where the sensation is occurring or manifesting itself. Similarly, it is used for price and decisions. When you decide on something at a restaurant, you say 'Kore ni shimasu' (I will do/decide on this). When an item costs a certain amount, you can use shimasu to indicate the price tag it 'carries'. This multi-faceted nature makes it indispensable for anyone moving from basic survival Japanese to functional fluency.

Sensory Usage

Used with the particle 'ga' to describe sounds (oto), smells (nioi), or tastes (aji) that are currently being perceived.

In summary, shimasu is the engine of the Japanese sentence. It provides the momentum for actions, the structure for hobbies, and the framework for polite social interaction. Whether you are studying, playing, or simply existing in a space where sounds and smells occur, shimasu is the linguistic thread that ties the experience together. Understanding its breadth is the first major step in mastering Japanese grammar.

Using します (shimasu) correctly requires an understanding of Japanese sentence structure, specifically the Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. Unlike English, where the verb comes after the subject, in Japanese, the verb shimasu will almost always appear at the very end of the sentence. This creates a sense of anticipation; the listener knows an action is coming, but they must wait for the final word to know exactly what that action is. The most common pattern involves a noun followed by the object marker particle o (を), followed by shimasu.

However, shimasu is unique because it often fuses with nouns to form 'compound verbs.' In these cases, the particle o is sometimes optional, especially in casual speech, though in formal writing and polite shimasu usage, keeping the o is generally safer. For example, benkyou o shimasu and benkyou shimasu both mean 'to study.' This 'noun + shimasu' structure is the primary way Japanese incorporates foreign loanwords. If a new technology or concept arrives from the West, Japanese speakers simply take the Katakana version of the word and add shimasu to it. This is why you will hear kopii shimasu (to copy) or daunroodo shimasu (to download).

The 'Ni' Particle Pattern

When making a choice or decision, use the particle ni before shimasu. Example: 'Koohii ni shimasu' (I'll go with coffee/I'll have coffee).

Another critical grammatical pattern involves the particle ga (が). While o is used for things you actively do, ga is used with shimasu for things that 'happen' to your senses. If you hear a loud noise, you say Oto ga shimasu. If the room smells like flowers, you say Hana no nioi ga shimasu. In these instances, shimasu functions more like 'to emanate' or 'to be present.' This is a common stumbling block for English speakers who want to use the verb kiku (to listen/hear) for everything related to sound. Remember: if the sound is just 'there' without you trying to hear it, use ga shimasu.

Negative and past tense forms are also essential. To say you 'did' something, shimasu becomes shimashita. To say you 'don't do' something, it becomes shimasen. And to say you 'didn't do' something, it becomes shimasen deshita. Because shimasu is irregular, it doesn't follow the standard rules for Group 1 or Group 2 verbs, so these four forms should be memorized as a set. This set allows you to navigate almost any basic conversation about your daily routine, your past actions, and your future plans.

Price and Value

When expressing that something costs a lot, you can say 'Takaku shimasu' (to make it expensive) or 'Sore wa 5000-en shimasu' (That costs 5000 yen).

In Japan, you are never more than a few seconds away from hearing some variation of します (shimasu). It is the heartbeat of public discourse. If you step into a department store or a restaurant, the first thing you will hear is Irasshaimase, which is a very formal derivation, but soon after, you will hear staff saying Onegai shimasu (Please/I ask of you). This phrase is the social lubricant of Japan. It is used when ordering food, asking for a favor, or even starting a match in a martial arts dojo. It literally means 'I do a request,' but it carries the weight of 'please treat me well' or 'please do this for me.'

In the workplace, shimasu is ubiquitous. When a colleague leaves for a meeting, they might say Itte kimasu (I'm going and coming back), and when they return, they say Tadaima. But the most important work phrase is Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. You will hear this at the end of every email, at the start of every introduction, and at the conclusion of every meeting. It signals a commitment to a positive working relationship. Without shimasu, Japanese business etiquette would effectively collapse. It provides the necessary polite distance while still indicating active participation.

On television and in anime, shimasu is used to signal intent. A character might shout Ikimasu! (I'm going!) or Yarimasu! (I'll do it! - a more masculine/forceful version), but the polite shimasu is used by 'proper' characters, students talking to teachers, or during formal announcements. News anchors use it constantly to report on what the government 'is doing' (shimasu) or what events 'will take place' (okonawaremasu, a formal relative). If you listen to public transport announcements, you'll hear Tsugi wa Shibuya ni teisha shimasu (Next, we will stop at Shibuya). Here, teisha (stopping a vehicle) is turned into a verb by shimasu.

In daily life, you'll hear parents telling children Hayaku shinasai! (Do it quickly! - the imperative form), but in the polite world of adults, it's always shimasu. When you pay at a convenience store, the clerk will say 1000-en ni narimasu (It becomes 1000 yen), but if they are confirming your choice, they might say Kore de yoroshii desu ka? and you respond Hai, sore ni shimasu (Yes, I'll go with that). The word is so common that it often blends into the background, but its absence would make Japanese sound incredibly blunt and incomplete. It is the sound of Japanese society functioning smoothly.

Public Announcements

Trains, buses, and elevators use shimasu to announce every movement. 'Doa ga shimari-masu' (The doors are closing).

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with します (shimasu) is over-using it as a direct translation for 'to be.' In English, we might say 'I am soccer' if we are being silly, but we never say 'I do soccer' to mean 'I am a soccer player.' In Japanese, beginners sometimes confuse desu (to be) with shimasu (to do). Remember: desu describes a state or identity, while shimasu describes an action. You are a student (gakusei desu), but you do study (benkyou shimasu).

Another common error is the 'Clothing Trap.' English uses the word 'wear' for everything: wear a shirt, wear a hat, wear a watch, wear perfume. Japanese is much more specific. You use kiru for upper body clothes, haku for lower body, and kaburu for hats. Shimasu is only used for accessories like ties, scarves, watches, and jewelry. If you say T-shatsu o shimasu, a Japanese person will be very confused; they might think you are doing something to the shirt, like folding it, rather than wearing it.

The 'Play' Confusion

Do not use asobu (to play/hang out) for sports. Asobu is for children playing or friends hanging out. For sports and games, always use shimasu.

The third major mistake involves sensory verbs. English speakers often say 'I smell a flower' (active). In Japanese, if you want to say 'it smells like a flower,' you must use ga shimasu. Using shimasu with the o particle for a smell implies you are actively 'doing' a smell, which sounds like you are the source of the odor or performing a very strange action. Always use Nioi ga shimasu for 'there is a smell' and Oto ga shimasu for 'there is a sound.'

Finally, be careful with the particle ni. While o shimasu means 'to do [object]', ni shimasu means 'to decide on [object]'. If you are at a restaurant and say Sushi o shimasu, it sounds like you are going to perform sushi (perhaps make it?). If you want to order it, you should say Sushi ni shimasu. This small particle change completely alters the meaning of the verb. Mastering these nuances will prevent many awkward misunderstandings in daily Japanese life.

While します (shimasu) is the standard polite verb for 'to do,' Japanese has several alternatives that vary based on politeness, social hierarchy, and specific context. Understanding these will help you move from A1 to more advanced levels. The most direct alternative is yarimasu. While shimasu is neutral-polite, yarimasu can feel more casual, masculine, or sometimes even 'downward-facing' (used when doing something for someone of lower status, like a pet or a plant). However, in modern Tokyo Japanese, yarimasu is also used to show strong determination, like 'I'll do it!' (Yarimasu!).

します (Shimasu) vs. いたします (Itashimasu)

Itashimasu is the humble (kenjougo) version. Use it when you are doing something for a superior or a customer to lower yourself and raise them. Example: 'O-tetsudai itashimasu' (I will humbly assist you).

In formal or academic writing, you might encounter okonaimasu (行う). This also means 'to do' or 'to carry out,' but it is much more formal and is usually reserved for events, ceremonies, or official research. You wouldn't use okonaimasu for doing your homework; that would sound like you are conducting a formal ceremony for your math problems. Okonaimasu is for things like 'The Olympics will be held' or 'We are conducting a survey.'

Another set of alternatives involves specific verbs that replace the generic 'do.' For example, instead of saying souji o shimasu (do cleaning), you could just use a specific verb if one exists, though for 'cleaning,' souji suru is the standard. However, for 'playing an instrument,' you never use shimasu. You use hiku (for piano/guitar), fuku (for flute/trumpet), or tataku (for drums). This is a key distinction: shimasu is for sports and games, but specific 'action' verbs are required for music.

Finally, consider the verb tsukurimasu (to make/create). Beginners often confuse 'doing' an activity with 'making' something. If you are 'doing' cooking, you say ryouri o shimasu. But if you are 'making' a specific cake, you might say keeki o tsukurimasu. Shimasu focuses on the process and the action, while tsukurimasu focuses on the end result or the physical creation. Choosing the right one makes your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.