Japanese

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɺ̠a̠ɰᵝa̠sɯ̥ᵝ]
• あらわ​す [a̠˨ ɺ̠a̠˦ ɰᵝa̠˦ꜜ sɯ̥ᵝ˨] (Nakadaka)^[2]

Alternative forms

• 表わす, 現わす, 現す, 顕わす, 顕す

Verb

表す ‎(transitive, godan conjugation, hiragana あらわす, romaji arawasu, historical hiragana あらはす)

1. to show, to make apparent
2. to express, to put into words
3. to signify, to represent, to symbolize, to stand for

Conjugation

Usage notes

This verb can be spelled many different ways. The spellings with the kana わ might be preferred for avoiding ambiguous readings. In general, which kanji to use depends on which sense one wishes to emphasize:^[3]

• 表 has connotations of front and surface, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to expressing something in words or symbols.
• 現 has connotations of real and realize, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to making something that was previously hidden now visible.
• 顕 has connotations of apparent and manifest, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to making something widely known or publicizing.

See also

• 著わす, 著す (あらわす, ​arawasu): of the same original meaning of to make something public, but now limited to meaning to publish

Etymology 2

Derived from Sinitic 表 ‎(hyō, “show; surface”), as a compound of 表 ‎(hyō) +‎ す ‎(su, causativizing / transitivizing suffix; root of modern suru, “to do; to make something do”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• On'yomi
• IPA^(key): [hjo̞ːsɯᵝ]
• ひょ​うす [hjo̞˦ꜜ o̞˨ sɯᵝ˨] (Atamadaka)^[2]

Verb

表す ‎(transitive, godan conjugation, hiragana ひょうす, romaji hyōsu, historical hiragana へうす)

1. to express, to say in words, to put into words

Conjugation

Usage notes

This is an archaic form. The modern form is 表する (ひょうする, ​hyōsuru).

References

1. 1 2 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, ISBN 978-4-14-011112-3
3. ↑ 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, ISBN 4-09-501211-0