Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
生かす
いかす (ikasu)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
軽んじる
かろんじる (karonjiru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 生かす and 軽んじる.
In Japanese, 生かす (いかす (ikasu)) is typically associated with "to make good use of, to leverage, to keep alive" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Often refers to utilizing one's skills, experience, or a resource effectively. Can also mean to save a life or let something live..
On the other hand, 軽んじる (かろんじる (karonjiru)) maps to "to make light of, to belittle, to disdain, to disregard" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents To treat something or someone as unimportant or trivial; often used for disrespecting rules, advice, feelings, or established norms. Similar to 侮る but focuses more on treating something as insignificant.. A literal translation of "make" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "生かす"
この経験を次の仕事に生かしたい。
I want to make good use of this experience in my next job.
Bilingual Context for "軽んじる"
彼の忠告を軽んじた結果、大きな失敗をしてしまった。
As a result of making light of his advice, I made a big mistake.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この経験を次の仕事に生かしたい。" (Meaning: "I want to make good use of this experience in my next job.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "生かす" fits here because it means "to make good use of, to leverage, to keep alive" in the context of: "I want to make good use of this experience in my next job.". "軽んじる" represents "to make light of, to belittle, to disdain, to disregard".