compound verb

grammar

686 sentences

Two verbs joined into one — the first verb's masu-stem combines with a second verb to form a unit with its own meaning: 飛び出す ('jump out'), 走り回る ('run around'), 取り戻す ('take back'), 言い切る ('state outright'). Some compound verbs are fully lexicalized (one fixed meaning); others use a productive aspectual auxiliary (~始める, ~続ける, ~出す, ~込む, ~切る, etc.) that combines freely with many base verbs to add an aspect like 'begin / continue / suddenly start / fully complete.'

686 sentences