🦅 Project Eagle
Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "買い物する", "致す", "行う", "なさる", "〜てしまう"

All represent the core concept "do", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

買い物する

かいものする (kaimono suru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B

致す

いたす (itasu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C

行う

おこなう (okonau)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D

なさる

なさる (nasaru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option E

〜てしまう

〜てしまう (te shimau)
N3 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "do" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "買い物する", "致す", "行う", "なさる", "〜てしまう" based on context.
  • 買い物する (かいものする (kaimono suru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to do shopping" and is used when Used when referring to the act of buying things, typically at a store. Can be used with に.
  • 致す (いたす (itasu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to do (humble form of する)" and is used when A very humble verb used for one's own actions. It's the humble equivalent of する.
  • 行う (おこなう (okonau) - Level: N4): Maps to "to do, to conduct, to carry out, to perform" and is used when More formal than する. Typically used for conducting events, ceremonies, research, or official procedures..
  • なさる (なさる (nasaru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to do (honorific form of する)" and is used when Honorific form of する.
  • 〜てしまう (〜てしまう (te shimau) - Level: N3): Maps to "to do completely; to do regrettably/unintentionally" and is used when Expresses either the completion of an action, often implying 'finished doing,' or an action done unintentionally or regrettably. In casual speech, it's often shortened to 〜ちゃう/〜じゃう.
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
Context for "買い物する"
デパートで洋服を買い物しました。
I bought clothes at the department store.
Context for "致す"
明日、私がご説明致します。
I will explain it tomorrow (humble).
Context for "行う"
今日は会議が行われる予定だ。
A meeting is scheduled to be held today.
Context for "なさる"
先生は何をなさいますか。
What will the teacher do?
Context for "〜てしまう"
大事な書類をなくしてしまいました。
I accidentally lost important documents.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "デパートで洋服を買い物しました。" (Meaning: "I bought clothes at the department store.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "買い物する" is correct here because it represents "to do shopping" in the context: "I bought clothes at the department store.".

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