Compound Verbs: 〜dasu・〜komu・〜ageru・〜kiru — The Verb Combos to Learn at N3 (N3-N2) [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「降り出す」「飛び込む」「仕上げる」「使い切る」 — the second verb reshapes the whole meaning.
「降り出す」「読み終わる」 — “compound verbs,” verb ＋ verb
「急に雨が降り出した」 (it suddenly started raining), 「この本を読み終わった」 (I finished reading this book) — compound verbs are “a verb's ます-stem ＋ another verb,” where the first verb is the action itself and the second adds meaning (start, end, direction, degree…). Like 「〜出す (suddenly start), 〜込む (go deep), 〜切る (thoroughly finish)」. This guide covers the most common second-verb feels, unpacking compound verbs.
Core: first verb = action, second verb = added meaning
A compound verb = first verb (ます-stem) ＋ second verb, the latter adding feel:
- 〜出す = suddenly start／emerge: 降り出す (suddenly start raining), 笑い出す (burst out laughing).
- 〜込む = enter, go deep: 飛び込む (jump in), 考え込む (ponder deeply).
- 〜上げる = complete, upward: 作り上げる (build up/finish making), 見上げる (look up at).
- 〜切る = thoroughly finish／all the way: 使い切る (use up), 走り切る (run the whole way).
How to Connect
| Second verb | Core meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜出す | suddenly start, emerge | 降り出す |
| 〜込む | enter, go deep | 飛び込む |
| 〜上げる | complete, upward | 作り上げる |
| 〜切る | thoroughly finish | 使い切る |
| 〜終わる／続ける | end／continue | 読み終わる |
實用例句
- 急に雨が降り出したので、傘を買った。(It suddenly started raining, so I bought an umbrella.) — 出す (sudden start)
- プールに飛び込んだ。(I jumped into the pool.) — 込む (enter)
- チームで一つの作品を作り上げた。(The team finished making one work.) — 上げる (complete)
- ジュースを一気に飲み切った。(I drank the juice all up in one go.) — 切る (thoroughly)
- この本を全部読み終わった。(I finished reading the whole book.) — 終わる (end)
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① The first verb uses the ます-stem. 降り出す (降る→降り ＋ 出す), 読み終わる (読む→読み ＋ 終わる). Make the ます-form first, drop ます, then attach the second verb.
② Memorize the second verb's meaning. 〜出す (suddenly start: 泣き出す = burst into tears) ≠ 〜終わる (end: 泣き終わる); 〜込む (go deep: 話し込む = get absorbed in talking); 〜切る (thoroughly: 疲れ切る = be exhausted). The second verb sets the whole word's feel.
③ 〜出す (start) vs 〜始める (start). 〜出す = suddenly, involuntarily start (急に泣き出す = suddenly burst into tears, with surprise); 〜始める = (just) start (泣き始める = start crying, neutral). 〜出す carries a “sudden, can't help it” flavor.
🔄 Nuance & comparison: 〜出す／〜込む／〜切る
| Second verb | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜出す | suddenly start, emerge | 降り出す・笑い出す |
| 〜込む | enter, go deep | 飛び込む・考え込む |
| 〜切る | thoroughly, all the way | 使い切る・言い切る （use up, state flatly） |
| 〜始める | (just) start | 降り始める |
💡 An exam judgment tip
Compound verbs (verb ます-stem ＋ verb) are a major source of Japanese's expressiveness — the second verb adds a “start／end／direction／degree” flavor to the first action. Memorize a few super-frequent second verbs: 〜出す (suddenly start: 降り出す, 笑い出す), 〜込む (go deep: 考え込む, 話し込む), 〜上げる (complete: 作り上げる), 〜切る (thoroughly: 使い切る, 疲れ切る), 〜終わる／続ける (end／continue). The attachment is first verb ます-stem ＋ second verb. A useful distinction: 〜出す (suddenly, can't-help-it start) vs 〜始める (just start) — 急に笑い出す (burst out laughing) is more vivid than 笑い始める. The more compound verbs you learn, the subtler and more vivid your Japanese.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: How do compound verbs attach? What form is the first verb in 「降り出す」?
A compound verb = the first verb's ます-stem ＋ the second verb. Make the first verb's ます-form, drop ます, then attach the second: 降ります→降り ＋ 出す = 降り出す (suddenly start raining), 読みます→読み ＋ 終わる = 読み終わる (finish reading), 使います→使い ＋ 切る = 使い切る (use up). So the first verb 「降る」 in 「降り出す」 uses the ます-stem 「降り」. Mnemonic: (verb ます-form minus ます) ＋ (second verb). The second verb inflects (降り出す→降り出した).
Q: 「〜出す」 and 「〜始める」 both mean “start” — how do I tell them apart?
By the “sudden, involuntary” feel. 「〜出す」 = suddenly, involuntarily start (with surprise, a burst): 急に雨が降り出した (it suddenly started raining), 赤ちゃんが泣き出した (the baby (suddenly) started crying), みんな笑い出した (everyone burst out laughing). 「〜始める」 = (just, objectively) start (neutral, simply “begin doing”): 雨が降り始めた (it started raining), 勉強し始める (start studying). So to stress “suddenly, can't help it” use 〜出す; to plainly state “start” use 〜始める. 「泣き出す (burst into tears)」 is more vivid and emotional than 「泣き始める (start crying)」.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「雨が降り___。」(The rain suddenly started falling)
(A) 込んだ (B) 出した (C) 切った (D) 合った
Q2. 「この本を全部読み___。」(I read this whole book to the end)
(A) 出した (B) 込んだ (C) 切った (D) 合った
Q3. What is the core nuance of 「〜込む」?
(A) sudden start
(B) doing something completely
(C) entering / going deep / throwing oneself fully in
(D) doing to each other
Q4. 「二人は問題について___。」(The two discussed the problem together)
(A) 話し合った (B) 話し出した (C) 話し切った (D) 話し込んだ
Q5. 「使い___」と「使い続ける」の違いは？
(A) exactly the same
(B) 使い切る: use up completely with nothing left; 使い続ける: keep using
(C) 使い切る: keep using; 使い続ける: use up
(D) 使い切る is written language
Answer Explanations
1. (B) 出した ── 「雨が降り出した」(the rain suddenly started falling) = 降る + 出す = suddenly beginning to rain. 出す conveys the nuance of 'suddenly starting.'
2. (C) 切った ── 「この本を全部読み切った」(I read this whole book to the end) = 読む + 切る = reading it completely (not a page left). 切る expresses 'thorough completion.'
3. (C) ── The core nuance of 込む: entering a space (飛び込む), pushing in (押し込む), throwing oneself fully in (打ち込む), firmly believing (信じ込む).
4. (A) 話し合った ── 「問題について話し合った」(discussed the problem) = 話す + 合う = talking with / consulting each other. 合う expresses mutuality.
5. (B) ── 「使い切る」(use up completely with nothing left) vs 「使い続ける」(keep using) — 切る = finishing completely, using up; 続ける = continuing on; the two are completely different in meaning.