Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 1: 20/21

活(い)かす

To make use of (something), To take full advantage of, To capitalize on, To leverage (skills), Bring out (the quality of)

Can also mean “to let live”

Structure

Noun + を + 活(い)かす(1)
Noun + を + 活(い)かした(2) + Noun

(1) 生(い)かす
(2) 生(い)かした

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

Rare Kanji

生かす

About 活かす

When を活(い)かす is partnered with a noun, it shows that (A) is something that is being made good use of, or leveraged. This can be in relation to skills, experiences, attributes, and many other things.
This grammar point may appear either in the form of the う-Verb 活(い)かす 'to enliven' or 生(い)かす 'to keep alive', with very little change in nuance. However, 活(い)かす tends to appear far more frequently, as the focus of this kanji is less in relation to the preservation of life, and more on just 'making good use' of something.
  • このパソコンの機能(きのう)を十分(じゅうぶん)に活(い)かすのにはたくさんの知識(ちしき)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
    You need to be very knowledgeable in order to make use of all the features of this computer.
  • この失敗(しっぱい)を次(つぎ)に活(い)かしてみてください。
    Please try to make use of this failure next time.
When linked to a (B) noun, in order to show that something 'has' been made good use of, 活(い)かす will appear in the past tense.
  • 私(わたし)のくせ毛(げ)を活(い)かした髪型(かみがた)にカットしてください。
    Please give me a haircut that makes good use of my curly hair.
  • この料理(りょうり)は鯖(さば)の旨味(うまみ)を活(い)かした料理(りょうり)なので調味料(ちょうみりょう)はあまり使(つか)っていません。
    This dish makes the most of the flavor of mackerel, so not much seasoning is used.
Fun-fact - 活(い)かす will often be used with adverbs of amount or quality, in order to highlight just how well (A) is being made good use of, or capitalized on. Examples include 十分(じゅうぶん)に 'adaquately', 有効(ゆうこう)に 'effectively', 最大限(さいだいげん)に 'to the fullest', and similar words.
  • 私(わたし)は仕事(しごと)で日本語(にほんご)を十分(じゅうぶん)に活(い)かせるかが心配(しんぱい)です。
    I am concerned about my ability to fully make use of my Japanese at work.
  • 勉強(べんきょう)が出来(でき)る時間(じかん)は限(かぎ)られている為(ため)、時間(じかん)を有効(ゆうこう)に活(い)かせるようにプランを立(た)ててから勉強(べんきょう)をするようにしています。
    The time that I can study is limited, so in order to make good use of my time, I make sure to make a plan before I start studying.

Examples

  • 友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)：「ぼくはこのチャンスを活(い)かしたい。」

    Chat between friends: 'I want to take full advantage of this chance.'

  • 新聞記事(しんぶんきじ)：「ルイスさんは技師(ぎし)としての経験(けいけん)を活(い)かして修理業(しゅうりぎょう)を始(はじ)めました。」

    Newspaper article: 'Louis made good use of his experience as a technician and started a repair business.'

  • ニスの生産者(せいさんしゃ)のサイトに：「木材(もくざい)の良(よ)さを活(い)かすとともに保護(ほご)するにはニスが必要(ひつよう)だ。」

    On the website of a varnish producer: 'Varnish is necessary to bring out the quality of the wood, as well as protect it.'

  • ノートパソコンの生産者(せいさんしゃ)のサイト：「アルミニウムの美(うつく)しさを最大限(さいだいげん)に活(い)かしたノートパソコン」

    Laptop producer's website: 'A laptop that takes full advantage of the beauty of aluminum'

  • 論文(ろんぶん)：「子供(こども)が才能(さいのう)を活(い)かすか殺(ころ)すか子供(こども)自身(じしん)はもとより親(おや)や教師(きょうし)次第(しだい)でもある。」

    Essay/article: 'Whether children leverage their talent or waste it, depends not only on the children themselves, but on the parents and teachers as well.'

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