～がする

§ Understanding がする (ga suru)

The Japanese phrase ～がする (ga suru) is a really useful way to talk about feelings or sensations that you perceive. It literally means "something does" or "something comes out," but when combined with certain nouns, it translates to "to feel ~." Think of it as experiencing something involuntarily, like a feeling washing over you rather than you actively doing something.

§ Basic Structure

The basic structure is simple:

Structure

Noun + がする (ga suru)

The noun here is typically something that describes a sensation or a feeling. Let's look at some common examples.

Hint

I feel a chill/shiver.

Hint

I hear a strange sound.

Notice how the noun (寒気 - chill, 音 - sound) is followed by the particle が (ga), and then します (shimasu) which is the polite form of する (suru). This combination is key.

§ Common Nouns Used with がする (ga suru)

Here are some common nouns you'll often see paired with がする (ga suru) to express various sensations:

• 音 (oto): sound. To hear a sound.

  どこかで犬の鳴き声がする。

  Hint

  I hear a dog barking somewhere.

• 匂い (nioi): smell. To smell something.

  焦げた匂いがする。

  Hint

  I smell something burning.

• 味 (aji): taste. To taste something.

  変な味がする。

  Hint

  It tastes strange.

• 感じ (kanji): feeling/sense. To have a certain feeling.

  少し寂しい感じがする。

  Hint

  I feel a little lonely.

• 予感 (yokan): premonition/hunch. To have a premonition.

  悪い予感がする。

  Hint

  I have a bad feeling/premonition.

• 震え (furue): tremor/shiver. To feel a shiver.

  指先に微かな震えがする。

  Hint

  I feel a slight tremor in my fingertips.

§ Grammar Points and Nuances

Here are a few important things to keep in mind when using がする (ga suru):

• Particle が (ga): Always use が (ga) before する (suru) in this construction. It marks the preceding noun as the subject of the "feeling" or "sensation."

• Involuntary Perception: がする (ga suru) implies that the feeling or sensation is perceived involuntarily. It's not something you actively do. For example, you hear a sound (音がする) rather than listen to a sound (音を聞く - oto o kiku).

• Adjectives vs. Nouns: While many feelings can be expressed with adjectives (e.g., 寒い - samui, cold), がする (ga suru) is used with nouns. If you want to say "I feel cold" using an adjective, you'd typically say 寒いです (samui desu) or 寒く感じる (samuku kanjiru - to feel cold, literally "feel cold-ly"). But if you're talking about a "chill" as a noun, then 寒気がする is perfect.

• Adding Detail: You can add adjectives or other modifiers before the noun to specify the type of feeling or sensation.

  何か甘い匂いがする。

  Hint

  I smell something sweet.

• Past Tense: To express a past feeling, simply change する (suru) to した (shita) in plain form or しました (shimashita) in polite form.

  昨夜、奇妙な音がした。

  Hint

  Last night, I heard a strange sound.

§ Practice Sentences

Try to make your own sentences using these common nouns and がする (ga suru). It's a fundamental expression for talking about how you perceive the world around you!

• 変な感じがする。(I have a strange feeling.)

• いい匂いがするね。(It smells good, doesn't it?)

• 風邪の時、体の節々がする。(When I have a cold, I feel aches all over my body.)

§ Understanding がする (ga suru)

The Japanese phrase ～がする (ga suru) is super useful. It means "to feel ~" or "to have a sensation of ~." You'll hear this a lot in daily conversation, and it's essential for talking about how you're feeling, whether physically or with your senses.

Think of it as adding a feeling or sensation to a noun. It’s not just for physical feelings like hot or cold; it can also be used for sounds, smells, and even certain emotional states.

Japanese Word

～がする (ga suru)

CEFR Level

B1

Definition

To feel ~ (e.g., 寒気がする - to feel a chill)

§ Common Uses of がする (ga suru)

You'll find がする (ga suru) used in many situations. Here are some of the most common categories:

• Physical Sensations: This is probably the most frequent use.
• Sensory Perceptions: Hearing, smelling, and sometimes even tasting.
• Certain Emotional or Mental States: Less common, but still important.

§ Where You'll Hear This Word

You’ll hear ～がする (ga suru) everywhere: at work, at school, in the news, and definitely in casual conversations. It's a fundamental part of expressing sensations in Japanese.

§ In Daily Life and Work

Imagine you're at the office and someone isn't feeling well, or you're just talking about the weather. This phrase will come up naturally.

Hint: I feel a headache because I'm coming down with a cold.

Hint: I smell something strange.

§ In Academic Settings or Discussions

Even in more formal contexts, like discussions or presentations, you might hear this phrase when describing observations or feelings about something abstract.

Hint: I feel there are signs of progress in this research.

Hint: I feel a sense of discomfort/wrongness.

§ In News or Public Announcements

While less common in very formal news reports, you might hear it in more informal news segments, interviews, or public safety announcements where people are describing sensations or public sentiment.

Hint: There were areas where a slight tremor was felt due to the earthquake.

Hint: Voices of anxiety are heard from many people.

§ Key Takeaways for がする (ga suru)

The key is to remember that がする (ga suru) attaches to nouns to express a sensation or feeling. It's straightforward and incredibly versatile.

• It describes an involuntary sensation. You don't *choose* to feel a headache; it just *happens*.
• It's often used with words related to the five senses (smell, sound, touch).
• Practice combining different nouns with がする to get comfortable with it.

By actively listening for and using ～がする (ga suru) in your daily Japanese studies, you’ll quickly master this essential phrase. It will make your conversations much more natural and expressive.

Let's talk about some common mistakes English speakers make when using ～がする (to feel). This phrase is straightforward once you get the hang of it, but there are a few traps to avoid.

§ Using を instead of が

This is perhaps the most frequent error. Many learners are used to marking the direct object of a verb with を. However, with ～がする, the particle is always が. This is because the feeling isn't something you 'do' to an object; it's something that 'occurs' or 'arises' within you. Think of it as 'a chill occurs' rather than 'I feel a chill' in a direct object sense.

DEFINITION

To feel ~ (e.g., 寒気がする - to feel a chill).

Incorrect: 寒気をする (This sounds unnatural and grammatically incorrect in this context).

§ Mixing it up with 感じる (kanjiru)

While 感じる also means 'to feel', it's generally used for more abstract or intellectual feelings, or when you are actively perceiving something. ～がする is for more involuntary, physical sensations or subtle perceptions.

• Use ～がする for:

  • Physical sensations (e.g., pain, cold, smell, sound)
  • Subtle perceptions (e.g., a strange feeling, a sense of danger)

• Use 感じる for:

  • Emotions (e.g., sadness, joy)
  • Abstract feelings or impressions (e.g., I feel that he is honest)
  • Perceiving something through your senses in a more active way (e.g., feeling the texture of fabric)

§ Using it with non-perceptual nouns

～がする works best with nouns that represent a sensory input (smell, sound, taste, feeling) or an abstract sensation. You wouldn't typically use it with nouns that don't fit into these categories.

Incorrect: 幸福がする (You wouldn't say 'happiness occurs' in this way. You'd use a verb like 幸せを感じる - to feel happy).

§ Forgetting the noun before がする

This might seem obvious, but sometimes learners forget that ～がする needs a noun preceding it to specify what is being felt or perceived.

Incorrect: する (by itself in this context, it just means 'to do').

By keeping these points in mind, you'll be well on your way to using ～がする correctly and naturally. It's a very common and useful phrase, so master it!

§ Understanding ～がする

You've learned that ～がする means "to feel ~" when talking about physical sensations like cold (寒い - samui), pain (痛い - itai), or a chill (寒気 - samuke). It's very useful for describing these kinds of internal experiences. But what about other ways to express feelings or sensations in Japanese?

§ Other Ways to Express Feelings

Japanese has several ways to talk about feelings and perceptions. It's important to know the differences so you can choose the right one.

• ～と感じる (to kanjiru): This is a general verb for "to feel" or "to sense." You use it when you're talking about a more conscious feeling or a perception you've processed. It's often used with thoughts or opinions, not just raw physical sensations.

  Meaning

  To feel, to sense (more conscious, intellectual feeling)

  彼女は彼の言葉に怒りを感じた。 (Kanojo wa kare no kotoba ni ikari o kanjita.)

  Hint: She felt anger at his words.

  私はその計画に不安を感じる。 (Watashi wa sono keikaku ni fuan o kanjiru.)

  Hint: I feel uneasy about that plan.

• ～と思う (to omou): This literally means "to think" or "to believe," but it can also express a personal feeling or impression, especially about something you're observing or considering. It's about your internal judgment or opinion.

  Meaning

  To think, to believe, to feel (as an opinion or impression)

  この映画は面白いと思う。 (Kono eiga wa omoshiroi to omou.)

  Hint: I think/feel this movie is interesting.

  今日は暑いと思う。 (Kyō wa atsui to omou.)

  Hint: I think/feel it's hot today.

• ～になる (ni naru) for states: While not directly "to feel," this can express a change into a state of feeling. For example, 寂しくなる (sabishiku naru - to become lonely/to start feeling lonely) or 嬉しくなる (ureshiku naru - to become happy/to start feeling happy). It focuses on the onset of the feeling.

  Meaning

  To become ~ (indicating a change in feeling or state)

  一人でいると寂しくなる。 (Hitori de iru to sabishiku naru.)

  Hint: I become/feel lonely when I'm alone.

§ When to use ～がする vs. alternatives

Remember, ～がする is primarily for raw, involuntary, often physical sensations. Think of things that "come to you" or are perceived passively.