N3Chapter 59Unit 5 · Written and Lexical Japanese

Compound Verbs and Completion

Learning objectives

  • Decode productive ます-stem compound verbs.
  • Distinguish completion from inability to finish.
  • Use mutual, repeated, inward, and incomplete-action meanings naturally.
N3 context
Japanese builds precise verbs by attaching a second verb to the ます-stem. Instead of memorising each as an unrelated word, learn the directional contribution of the second element.
Vocabulary語彙
6 terms

  • 仕上げる

    verb

    しあげる

    to finish; complete

  • 見直す

    verb

    みなおす

    to review; reconsider

  • 話し合う

    verb

    はなしあう

    to discuss together

  • 書き込む

    verb

    かきこむ

    to fill in; write into

  • 使い切る

    verb

    つかいきる

    to use up

  • 読みかけ

    noun

    よみかけ

    partly read

Pattern contrast使い分け

What does the second verb contribute?

stem + 始める／終わる

boundary

begin / finish an activity

Marks the boundary of an action. 終わる focuses on finishing the activity, not necessarily exhausting an object.

雨が降り始めたので、作業を終えた。

It began to rain, so we ended the work.

stem + 切る／切れない

exhaustive

do completely / be unable to finish

Completion reaches an exhaustive limit; 切れない means the amount exceeds one's capacity.

量が多くて、一人では食べ切れない。

There is so much that I cannot finish it alone.

stem + 直す

corrective

do again; revise

Repeats an action to correct or reconsider it.

説明が分かりにくかったので、書き直した。

The explanation was unclear, so I rewrote it.

stem + 合う

mutual

do mutually or together

Participants direct the action toward one another or collaborate.

意見が違っても、話し合うことが大切だ。

Even when opinions differ, discussing them together is important.

stem + 込む／かける

direction / incomplete

move deeply/inward / begin but not finish

込む often adds inward movement or intensity; かける leaves an action incomplete or just beginning.

読みかけの本にメモを書き込んだ。

I wrote a note in the book I had started but not finished.

Not every combination is freely productive

The patterns help decode unfamiliar compounds, but established usage still matters. Check a dictionary before inventing a new combination, especially with abstract verbs.

Guided practice練習

Build the compound verb that supplies the stated direction.

  1. 1.Rewrite an email because it was too direct.

  2. 2.The problem is too complex to explain completely.

  3. 3.Students exchanged opinions with one another.
Reading practice読解

Finishing a group report

project diary

Target: 3 minutes
昨日、グループで報告書を仕上げました。最初の案は説明が長すぎたため、重要な部分だけ残して書き直しました。一人では気づかなかった問題も、互いに読み合うことで見つかりました。締め切りまでに全部確認し切れるか心配でしたが、最後まで集中して作業をやり切りました。
互いに（たがいに）
mutually
締め切り（しめきり）
deadline
  1. Why was the first draft rewritten?
  2. What does やり切りました emphasise?
Listening rehearsal聴解

An unfinished form

Listen for the action that was started and the correction needed.

Listen before opening the transcript.
  1. Was the form completed?
Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1The ます-stem links to a second verb that supplies aspect or direction.
  • 2切る marks exhaustive completion; 切れない marks inability to finish.
  • 3直す repeats correctively, 合う acts mutually, 込む moves inward/deeply, and かける leaves an action incomplete.

Knowledge Check

Practice quiz
1 / 8

量が多くて食べ＿＿。