Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

Few Japanese verbs do as much heavy lifting as dasu (出す). On the surface it means ‘to take out’ or ‘to put out,’ but this single word threads through everyday life from handing in homework to pouring tea — making it one of the most useful verbs a beginner can learn early.

Dasu (出す) is a transitive godan verb with a core meaning of causing something to move outward or become externally visible. Its range is wide: ‘to take out’ (a wallet from a bag), ‘to submit’ (an application or report), ‘to serve’ (food to a guest), ‘to produce’ (a sound or result), ‘to send’ (a letter), and ‘to start doing’ something (as a suffix). As a standalone verb, the subject removes or presents something from an enclosed or internal space to an external one. As a suffix — attached to the stem of another verb — -dasu means ‘to suddenly begin’: hashiri-dasu (to suddenly start running), naki-dasu (to suddenly burst into tears). This suffix use is particularly productive and very common in both speech and writing. Polite form: dashimasu; negative: dasanai; past: dashita; te-form: dashite.

How to Use It

The key to mastering dasu is distinguishing it from its intransitive partner deru (出る, to come out / to leave). Dasu requires an object — you take something out. Deru describes movement on its own — the subject leaves or emerges. Compare: saifu wo dasu (I take out my wallet) versus heya kara deru (I leave the room). Confusing these is one of the classic transitive/intransitive errors in Japanese. Also watch the suffix use: when -dasu attaches to a verb stem, the action it introduces is typically sudden and often involuntary — warai-dasu (burst out laughing) captures surprise or unstoppable reaction, not a planned decision to begin laughing.

Kanji Breakdown

出す is written with 出 (exit; to go out; to come out) plus the hiragana verb ending す. The kanji 出 depicts two mountain peaks rising above a base line — an image of something emerging upward. Its radical is also 出 itself. The character appears in dozens of common compound words: 出口 (deguchi, exit), 出発 (shuppatsu, departure), 出身 (shusshin, hometown or origin). Recognizing 出 in these compounds makes the ‘out / emerge’ meaning immediately clear.

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

The concept of dasu in the context of submitting — dashimasu for reports, applications, or forms — reflects the strong documentation culture in Japanese institutions. Whether applying to a company, enrolling in a school, or registering at a ward office, there is almost always a form to dasu. The expectation of timely, properly formatted submission is high, and late submission carries social weight. When someone says mada dashite nai (I haven’t submitted it yet), the implications go beyond logistics.

In hospitality settings, dasu becomes the verb of serving — the host ‘puts out’ tea, food, or a gift. This usage connects to the Japanese principle of omotenashi (thoughtful hospitality): the act of presenting something to a guest is deliberate, attentive, and carries the host’s care and effort. A teacup placed before you, a bowl of soup offered at a traditional inn — these are all instances of dasu in its warmest register.

📚 Learn More