行う

The Japanese verb 行う (おこなう - okonau) is a cornerstone of formal and semi-formal communication. While English speakers often learn the basic verb suru (to do) early on, okonau represents a significant step up in linguistic maturity. It specifically refers to the act of carrying out, performing, or conducting a planned action, event, or process. Unlike the generic suru, which can be used for anything from playing sports to doing laundry, okonau carries a sense of intentionality, structure, and often public or professional significance. It is the word you use when an organization holds an election, when a scientist conducts an experiment, or when a priest performs a ritual.

Core Nuance

Planned implementation. It implies that the action has a beginning, a procedure, and an end, often involving multiple participants or a specific protocol.

In daily life, you will encounter okonau in news broadcasts, official documents, and business settings. It is rarely used for personal, trivial tasks. For example, you wouldn't usually say you 'okonau' your homework unless you are describing the process of completing it in a very formal academic report. Instead, it is reserved for 'events' (gyōji). If a school is holding a sports day, they okonau the event. If a company is conducting a survey, they okonau the research. This distinction is vital for sounding natural in Japanese; using suru where okonau is expected makes you sound overly casual, while using okonau for mundane tasks makes you sound strangely robotic or overly dramatic.

Furthermore, okonau is frequently seen in its passive form, 行われる (okonawareru). In Japanese media, it is much more common to say 'The meeting was held' (会議が行われた) than 'They held a meeting'. This passive construction allows the speaker to focus on the event itself rather than the person performing the action, which is a key characteristic of formal Japanese discourse. Whether it is a political summit, a local festival, or a medical procedure, okonau provides the necessary weight and professionalism to the description. Understanding this word is essential for anyone moving from basic conversational Japanese into the realms of business, academia, or news literacy.

Formal Contexts

Ceremonies, legal proceedings, scientific experiments, and official government actions.

Historically, the kanji 行 (gyō/iku) relates to walking or a crossroads, suggesting a path or a way of doing things. When used as okonau, it emphasizes the 'path' of the action—the steps taken to ensure a task is completed according to a set standard. This is why it is so closely tied to rituals and procedures. Even in modern usage, there is a lingering sense of 'correctness' or 'following a method' when this verb is chosen over its simpler counterparts.

Using 行う (okonau) correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical environment. It is a transitive verb, meaning it almost always takes a direct object marked by the particle を (wo). The objects of okonau are typically nouns that represent events, actions, or abstract processes. Common objects include shiken (exam), chōsa (survey), gishiki (ceremony), and shujutsu (surgery). Because it is a Godan verb (Type 1), it conjugates following standard patterns: okonaimasu (polite), okonatta (past), okonawanai (negative).

The Passive Voice

The passive form 行われる (okonawareru) is arguably more common in written Japanese than the active form. It is used to state that an event 'takes place' or 'is held'. For example: 'オリンピックは４年ごとに行われる' (The Olympics are held every four years).

When constructing sentences, pay attention to the level of formality. If you are talking to a friend about a party you are hosting, okonau might sound too stiff; suru or hiraku (to open/hold) would be more appropriate. However, if you are writing an invitation for a corporate seminar, okonau is the standard choice. It signals to the reader that the event is organized and professional. It is also worth noting that okonau can be used with adverbs that describe the manner of execution, such as teinei ni (politely/carefully) or kyōsei teki ni (forcibly).

Another important aspect is the potential form, 行える (okonaeru), meaning 'can perform' or 'can be carried out'. This is often used in technical manuals or software descriptions, such as 'このボタンで設定を行えます' (You can perform settings with this button). This usage bridges the gap between 'doing' and 'configuring' or 'executing' a command. In academic writing, okonau is the default verb for describing the methodology of a study. You will see phrases like '分析を行った' (conducted an analysis) or '比較を行った' (conducted a comparison) in almost every research paper.

Common Objects

1. 調査 (Survey) 2. 実験 (Experiment) 3. 会議 (Meeting) 4. 祭り (Festival) 5. 改革 (Reform)

Finally, remember that okonau is a transitive verb. If you want to say an event 'happens' naturally without an explicit organizer, you might use okoru (to occur) or hirakareru (to be held). However, okonau always implies that there is an agent—an individual, a group, or an institution—that is actively managing the process. This makes it a very 'human-centric' verb of action and administration.

If you turn on the NHK news in Japan, you will likely hear 行う (okonau) within the first five minutes. It is the standard verb for reporting on government activities, international summits, and legal rulings. For example, a news anchor might say, '首相は今日、アメリカ大統領と会談を行いました' (The Prime Minister held a meeting with the US President today). In this context, using suru would sound far too informal for a national broadcast. The word provides a layer of institutional authority to the report.

In the Workplace

Business meetings, presentations, and emails. It is used to describe project phases, audits, and official evaluations.

In a Japanese office, okonau is used when discussing official procedures. A manager might announce, '来週、避難訓練を行います' (We will conduct a fire drill next week). It is also ubiquitous in the world of sports. While players 'play' (suru/yaru) a game, the league 'conducts' or 'holds' (okonau) the tournament. You will hear stadium announcers say, 'ただいまより、表彰式を行います' (We will now hold the awards ceremony). This usage marks the transition from the informal 'play' of the game to the formal 'ceremony' of the event.

Education is another primary domain for okonau. Teachers use it to announce tests, and students use it in their lab reports. If you are a student in Japan, your syllabus will likely list when 'shiken wo okonau' (exams will be conducted). In a university setting, the word is inseparable from the concept of research. Professors don't just 'do' research; they 'okonau' it. This elevates the activity from a hobby to a professional endeavor. Similarly, in the medical field, doctors 'okonau' surgeries and 'okonau' consultations, emphasizing the procedural nature of healthcare.

Public Announcements

'The train doors will close' or 'A safety check is being performed' often utilize this verb in formal announcements.

Finally, you will see okonau in the digital world. Software interfaces use it for 'executing' tasks. When you click 'Update' or 'Process', the underlying Japanese text often refers to shori wo okonau (performing the process). It is the language of action in a structured environment, whether that environment is a physical laboratory, a corporate boardroom, or a digital operating system.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with 行う (okonau) is overusing it in casual contexts. Because it translates to 'to do' or 'to carry out', learners sometimes think it is a direct, more 'sophisticated' replacement for suru. However, using okonau for daily chores is a major 'unnatural' flag. For instance, saying 'sentaku wo okonau' (I will conduct the laundry) sounds like you are treating your dirty socks like a scientific experiment. In daily life, suru or yaru is almost always the correct choice for personal tasks.

Mistake: Over-formality

Using 'okonau' for shopping, cleaning, or playing games. These are personal activities, not formal procedures.

Another common error is confusing okonau with okoru (to happen/occur). While they look similar in their dictionary forms, their meanings and grammar are entirely different. Okonau is transitive (someone does something), whereas okoru is intransitive (something happens). You cannot say 'The earthquake okonau' because an earthquake isn't a planned event carried out by an organizer. Similarly, you cannot 'okoru' a meeting; you must 'okonau' it. Mixing these up can lead to very confusing sentences where it sounds like you are claiming to have 'performed' a natural disaster.

A third mistake involves the passive voice. Many learners forget that okonau is the verb used for 'holding' an event. They might try to use motsu (to hold/carry) because that is the literal English translation. Saying 'kaigi wo motta' for 'held a meeting' is a direct translation from English that sounds very awkward in Japanese. The correct way to express that an event was held is always okonatta (active) or okonawareta (passive). Remember: you 'hold' an umbrella with motsu, but you 'hold' a ceremony with okonau.

Mistake: Literal Translation

Using 'motsu' (to hold) for events. Always use 'okonau' or 'hiraku' for events.

Lastly, be careful with the kanji. While okonau is written as 行う, the kanji 行 is also the root for iku (to go). In text without furigana, you must rely on the okurigana (the kana following the kanji). If it is 行く, it is iku. If it is 行う, it is okonau. Misreading these can completely change the meaning of a sentence, turning 'I will conduct a survey' into 'I will go to a survey'. Always check the trailing characters!

Japanese has several words for 'doing' or 'carrying out' something, and choosing the right one depends on the context and the level of formality. The most common alternative to 行う (okonau) is する (suru). As discussed, suru is the general-purpose verb. It is flexible, casual, and can be attached to many nouns to form new verbs (e.g., benkyō suru). Okonau is its more formal, procedural cousin. If suru is 'to do', okonau is 'to execute'.

実施する (Jisshi suru)

This is even more formal than 'okonau'. It is often used in government or business contexts to mean 'to implement' or 'to put into effect'. While you can 'okonau' a test, a government 'jisshi suru' a new policy.

Another similar word is 執り行う (toriokonau). This is a highly formal version of okonau, used almost exclusively for solemn ceremonies, religious rites, or official state functions. You would hear this at a traditional Japanese wedding or a funeral. It implies a deep sense of reverence and strict adherence to tradition. If okonau is 'to conduct', toriokonau is 'to solemnize' or 'to officiate'.

For holding events specifically, 開催する (kaisai suru) and 開く (hiraku) are common. Kaisai suru is formal and used for exhibitions, Olympics, or large-scale events. Hiraku is slightly more casual and can be used for parties or small meetings. While you can 'okonau' a meeting, 'hiraku' emphasizes the 'opening' or 'hosting' aspect. Finally, there is 果たす (hatasu), which means 'to carry out' in the sense of fulfilling a duty or a promise. You 'hatasu' a role (yakuwari) or a promise (yakusoku), whereas you 'okonau' an action or a process.

Comparison Table

• 行う: Formal, procedural (e.g., experiments, surveys).
• する: General, casual (e.g., homework, sports).
• 実施する: Institutional, implementation (e.g., laws, plans).
• 開催する: Event-specific (e.g., festivals, games).

Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate the complex social hierarchy of the Japanese language. By choosing okonau over suru, you signal that you recognize the importance and structured nature of the task at hand. It is a subtle but powerful tool for effective communication.