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「食べすぎる」 means to eat too much, 「読み始める」 means to start reading, and 「雨が降り出す」 means that it has started raining. These are all common Japanese compound verbs encountered when preparing for JLPT N4. By attaching different forms to a verb, you can express whether an action is beginning, continuing, finishing, or being done to an excessive degree.

One particularly confusing distinction is between 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」. For example, both 「雨が降り始めた」 and 「雨が降り出した」 can be translated as “It started raining.” The former simply states that the rain began, while the latter is more likely to evoke a situation where rain suddenly starts falling. Beyond memorizing the attachment rules, understanding the differences in nuance between these expressions in actual sentences will help you distinguish similar usages.

What are JLPT N4 compound verbs? Understanding different endings with 「食べる」

Japanese compound verbs are expressions formed by combining two verbs, such as 「食べ始める」「読み続ける」 and 「書き直す」. They are generally formed by changing the first verb into its ます-form, removing 「ます」, and attaching another verb. This adds meanings such as starting, continuing, completing, or repeating an action. When 「〜すぎる」 is attached to a verb, it follows the same attachment pattern and indicates that an action exceeds an appropriate degree.

Starting with the same verb, 「食べる」 (to eat), adding 「始める」 gives 「食べ始める」 (to start eating), adding 「続ける」 gives 「食べ続ける」 (to keep eating), and adding 「終わる」 gives 「食べ終わる」 (to finish eating). Changing it to 「食べすぎる」 gives it the meaning of eating too much. Although the first verb remains the same, changing the second part changes the situation described by the entire sentence.

For example, 「食べ始めました」 indicates that someone has started eating, but it does not tell us whether they have finished. In contrast, 「食べ終わりました」 clearly indicates that the meal is finished. 「食べすぎました」 means that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level. All these expressions can be used in the same dining situation. The difference lies in whether the speaker wants to describe the stage an action has reached or the degree to which it was performed.

• Example: みんながそろったので、食べ始めました。
  Kana: みんながそろったので、たべはじめました。
  Translation: Since everyone had arrived, we started eating.
  「食べ始める」 indicates that the action of eating has begun, without specifying whether the meal has been finished. The 「ので」 in the sentence explains the reason for starting the meal.
• Example: もう昼ご飯を食べ終わりました。
  Kana: もうひるごはんをたべおわりました。
  Translation: I've already finished lunch.
  「食べ終わる」 indicates that the action of eating has been completed. Combined with 「もう」 (already), it can be used to answer someone asking whether you have finished eating or to explain that you have already finished your meal.
• Example: 昨日はケーキを食べすぎました。
  Kana: きのうはケーキをたべすぎました。
  Translation: I ate too much cake yesterday.
  「食べすぎる」 indicates that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level. The focus is on eating too much, rather than emphasizing when the eating started or whether all the cake was finished.

Japanese compound verb formation rules: Remove 「ます」 from the verb's ます-form

The most common way to form Japanese compound verbs is to use the verb's ます-form without 「ます」, followed by another verb. For example, 「読む」 first changes to 「読みます」. Removing 「ます」 leaves 「読み」, which combines with 「始める」 to form 「読み始める」. The same rule applies to forms such as 「〜出す」「〜続ける」「〜終わる」 and 「〜直す」.

「〜すぎる」 follows the same pattern when attached to a verb. For example, removing 「ます」 from 「食べます」 and adding 「すぎる」 produces 「食べすぎる」. However, 「〜すぎる」 can also be attached to adjectives, in which case the verb's ます-form rule does not apply. With い-adjectives, the final 「い」 is removed. With な-adjectives, 「すぎる」 attaches directly to the adjective stem without 「な」.

Once a compound verb has been formed, it can still be conjugated. For example, 「読み始める」 becomes 「読み始めました」, while 「書き直す」 becomes 「書き直しました」. The conjugation follows the verb in the second part of the compound rather than conjugating the initial 「読み」 or 「書き」 again.

Attachment type	Formation	Example	Important note
Godan verbs	Verb's ます-form minus ます + second verb	読む → 読み始める	Change 「読む」 to 「読み」 first; 「始める」 cannot be attached directly
Ichidan verbs	Verb's ます-form minus ます + second verb	食べる → 食べ終わる	Remove 「ます」 from 「食べます」 before attaching the second verb
Irregular verb 「する」	し + second verb	勉強する → 勉強し始める	Change 「する」 to 「し」; do not use the dictionary form directly
Irregular verb 「来る」	来（き） + second verb	来る → 来始める（きはじめる）	The reading is 「き」, not 「く」, when attaching the second verb
Verb + すぎる	Verb's ます-form minus ます + すぎる	食べる → 食べすぎる	Like the other forms, remove 「ます」 from the ます-form
い-adjective + すぎる	Remove 「い」 + すぎる	高い → 高すぎる	Do not write 「高いすぎる」
な-adjective + すぎる	Adjective stem + すぎる	静か → 静かすぎる	No 「な」 is needed
Special adjective + すぎる	Use the special stem + すぎる	いい → よすぎる	Do not use 「いいすぎる」 to mean “too good”

Japanese compound verb formation ① | Remove 「ます」 from the verb's ます-form before attaching the second verb

「〜始める」「〜出す」「〜続ける」「〜終わる」 and 「〜直す」 all attach to the form obtained by removing 「ます」 from a verb's ます-form. Godan verbs must first undergo their usual conjugation. For example, 「読む」 changes to 「読みます」 before 「ます」 is removed. With an ichidan verb such as 「食べる」, removing 「ます」 from 「食べます」 leaves 「食べ」.

Irregular verbs follow the same general principle, although their ます-form conjugations differ. 「する」 changes to 「します」, leaving 「し」 when 「ます」 is removed. 「来る（くる）」 changes to 「来ます（きます）」, leaving 「来（き）」. Therefore, expressions such as 「勉強し始める」 and 「来始める（きはじめる）」 also use these conjugated forms.

• Example: 電車の中で本を読み始めました。
  Kana: でんしゃのなかでほんをよみはじめました。
  Translation: I started reading a book on the train.
  「読む」 first changes to 「読みます」. After removing 「ます」 and attaching 「始める」, it becomes 「読み始める」. You cannot write 「読む始める」 by attaching the second verb directly.
• Example: レポートを書き終わりました。
  Kana: レポートをかきおわりました。
  Translation: I finished writing the report.
  「書く」 is a godan verb, and its ます-form is 「書きます」. Therefore, when attaching 「終わる」, you must use 「書き」 to form 「書き終わる」.
• Example: 先月から日本語を勉強し始めました。
  Kana: せんげつからにほんごをべんきょうしはじめました。
  Translation: I started studying Japanese last month.
  The ます-form of 「勉強する」 is 「勉強します」. Removing 「ます」 leaves 「勉強し」, so the correct form is 「勉強し始める」, not 「勉強する始める」.

Japanese compound verb formation ② | Distinguishing い-adjectives and な-adjectives when attaching 「〜すぎる」

In addition to verbs, 「〜すぎる」 can be attached to both い-adjectives and な-adjectives, but the attachment rules differ. With い-adjectives, remove the final 「い」 first. For example, 「高い」 becomes 「高」, which combines with 「すぎる」 to form 「高すぎる」. With な-adjectives, use the stem directly. For example, adding 「すぎる」 to 「静か」 produces 「静かすぎる」.

It is important to distinguish the basic stem of a な-adjective from the form used to modify a noun. In 「静かな部屋」, the 「な」 connects the adjective to the following noun. It is not retained when attaching 「すぎる」, so 「静かなすぎる」 is not a valid form. Another special case to remember is 「いい」, which uses 「よ」 when combined with 「すぎる」, producing 「よすぎる」.

• Example: この靴は高すぎます。
  Kana: このくつはたかすぎます。
  Translation: These shoes are too expensive.
  「高い」 is an い-adjective, so the final 「い」 must be removed before attaching 「すぎる」. The correct form is 「高すぎる」, not 「高いすぎる」.
• Example: この部屋は静かすぎます。
  Kana: このへやはしずかすぎます。
  Translation: This room is too quiet.
  「静か」 is a な-adjective, so 「すぎる」 attaches directly to it. Although the adjective appears as 「静かな部屋」 when modifying a noun, 「な」 is not used before 「すぎる」.
• Example: この話は条件がよすぎて、少し心配です。
  Kana: このはなしはじょうけんがよすぎて、すこししんぱいです。
  Translation: The terms of this offer seem almost too good, which makes me a little worried.
  When 「すぎる」 is attached to 「いい」, the form 「よ」 is used, producing 「よすぎる」. The 「よすぎて」 in the sentence is the て-form of 「よすぎる」.

Japanese compound verb formation ③ | How are compound verbs conjugated? The second verb determines the conjugation

After 「始める」「出す」「続ける」「終わる」「直す」 or 「すぎる」 is attached to a verb, the entire expression conjugates according to the rules for the second verb. For example, the second part of 「読み始める」 is 「始める」, an ichidan verb, so it can become 「読み始めます」「読み始めた」 or 「読み始めない」.

If the second part is a godan verb, the conjugation is different. For example, the second part of 「書き直す」 is 「直す」, whose ます-form is 「直します」. The entire compound verb therefore becomes 「書き直します」. Similarly, 「読み終わる」 becomes 「読み終わります」, and its past form is 「読み終わった」.

A common mistake is to conjugate the first verb again. For example, 「読み始める」 cannot become 「読みました始める」 because 「読み」 is already fixed as the connecting part of the compound. When conjugating, use the second verb to determine the correct form.

• Example: 昨日から新しい本を読み始めました。
  Kana: きのうからあたらしいほんをよみはじめました。
  Translation: I started reading a new book yesterday.
  The second part of 「読み始める」 is 「始める」, whose ます-form is 「始めます」. Its polite past form is therefore 「読み始めました」. The initial 「読み」 does not need to change again.
• Example: 間違えたので、もう一度書き直しました。
  Kana: まちがえたので、もういちどかきなおしました。
  Translation: I made a mistake, so I wrote it again.
  The second part of 「書き直す」 is the godan verb 「直す」. Its ます-form is 「直します」, and its polite past form is 「直しました」. The entire compound therefore becomes 「書き直しました」.
• Example: 寝る前にスマホを見すぎないようにしています。
  Kana: ねるまえにスマホをみすぎないようにしています。
  Translation: I try not to spend too much time looking at my phone before bed.
  The second part of 「見すぎる」 is 「すぎる」, whose negative form is 「すぎない」. The compound therefore becomes 「見すぎない」. The initial 「見」 remains in the form obtained by removing 「ます」 from the ます-form.

JLPT N4 compound verb usage: Excess, beginning, continuation, completion, and repetition

Japanese compound verbs describe different aspects of an action depending on the form attached to the end. 「〜すぎる」 indicates excess, while 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 both relate to the beginning of an action. 「〜続ける」 indicates continuation, 「〜終わる」 indicates completion, and 「〜直す」 is used when an action is performed again.

「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 are particularly easy to confuse. Although both can be translated as “start,” the former usually just states that an action has begun, while the latter often suggests something sudden or unexpected. For 「〜続ける」「〜終わる」 and 「〜直す」, the distinction depends on whether the action is continuing, has already been completed, or needs to be done again.

「〜すぎる」 usage ① | Expressing excessive action or degree

「〜すぎる」 indicates that the number of times an action is performed, its duration, its quantity, or a particular quality exceeds an appropriate level. It is often translated as “too…” or “excessively…” in English. For example, 「食べすぎる」 means to eat too much, 「見すぎる」 can mean to watch something for too long, and 「高すぎる」 means that something is too expensive. It can be attached to verbs as well as い-adjectives and な-adjectives.

This form often conveys the speaker's judgment that something has exceeded an appropriate degree, but it does not necessarily express a complaint. For example, 「この服は高すぎる」 usually means that a piece of clothing is too expensive. In casual speech, however, 「おいしすぎる」 can also be used to praise something as exceptionally delicious. Therefore, its meaning depends not only on the literal sense of “too…” but also on the speaker's tone.

• Example: 昨日、ケーキを食べすぎました。
  Kana: きのう、ケーキをたべすぎました。
  Translation: I ate too much cake yesterday.
  「食べすぎる」 indicates that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level. The sentence does not specify exactly how much was eaten; instead, it conveys the feeling that the speaker ate too much.
• Example: この靴は高すぎます。
  Kana: このくつはたかすぎます。
  Translation: These shoes are too expensive.
  「高すぎる」 describes a price that exceeds an acceptable level. Here, 「すぎる」 is attached to an adjective and refers to the price rather than an action.
• Example: この部屋は静かすぎます。
  Kana: このへやはしずかすぎます。
  Translation: This room is too quiet.
  「静かすぎる」 indicates that the degree of quietness exceeds expectations. Being quiet is not necessarily a bad thing, but this expression can be used when a room feels so quiet that it becomes somewhat uncomfortable.

「〜始める」 usage ② | Expressing the beginning of an action or habit

「〜始める」 indicates that an action, activity, or change has begun, usually without emphasizing that it happened suddenly. For example, 「読み始める」 means to start reading, and 「勉強し始める」 means to start studying. These expressions can be used to explain when an action began.

In addition to actions beginning at a particular moment, 「〜始める」 can describe the start of a new habit or a continuing activity. For example, 「最近、朝早く起き始めました」 means that someone has recently started getting up early. It describes a change in lifestyle rather than simply getting up earlier on one particular day. The form can also describe natural phenomena, as in 「桜が咲き始める」, meaning that cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom.

• Example: 電車の中で本を読み始めました。
  Kana: でんしゃのなかでほんをよみはじめました。
  Translation: I started reading a book on the train.
  「読み始める」 indicates that the action of reading has begun. The sentence only describes the start of reading and does not specify how long the person continued reading or whether the book was finished.
• Example: 先月から日本語を勉強し始めました。
  Kana: せんげつからにほんごをべんきょうしはじめました。
  Translation: I started studying Japanese last month.
  「勉強し始める」 identifies the starting point of a learning activity. Together with 「先月から」, it clearly indicates that studying began last month, without suggesting anything sudden.
• Example: 四月になると、桜が咲き始めます。
  Kana: しがつになると、さくらがさきはじめます。
  Translation: When April arrives, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom.
  「咲き始める」 describes the beginning of the natural process of flowering. The emphasis is on cherry blossoms entering the blooming stage, not on an unexpected event occurring suddenly.

「〜出す」 usage ③ | Expressing the sudden beginning of an action or the emergence of a change

When attached to a verb, 「〜出す」 can indicate that an action which was not previously happening suddenly begins, or that some kind of change starts to appear. For example, 「降り出す」 means that it starts raining, 「泣き出す」 means to burst into tears or start crying, and 「笑い出す」 means to start laughing. These expressions frequently appear in situations involving changes in the weather, emotional reactions, or actions that occur suddenly.

Compared with 「〜始める」, 「〜出す」 tends to draw more attention to the moment an action begins. For example, 「雨が降り始めた」 simply states that it started raining, while 「雨が降り出した」 is more likely to evoke a scene in which rain suddenly starts falling. However, 「〜出す」 does not always imply something unexpected; its meaning still depends on the preceding verb and the context of the sentence.

• Example: 急に雨が降り出しました。
  Kana: きゅうにあめがふりだしました。
  Translation: It suddenly started raining.
  「降り出す」 describes the beginning of rainfall. Combined with 「急に」 (suddenly), it conveys an even clearer sense of an abrupt change in the weather.
• Example: 赤ちゃんが泣き出しました。
  Kana: あかちゃんがなきだしました。
  Translation: The baby suddenly started crying.
  「泣き出す」 indicates the beginning of crying and is often used to describe a baby who was not crying before but suddenly starts to cry.
• Example: その話を聞いて、みんなが笑い出しました。
  Kana: そのはなしをきいて、みんながわらいだしました。
  Translation: Everyone started laughing after hearing that story.
  「笑い出す」 indicates that laughter begins. By first explaining that everyone heard something and then describing their reaction, the sentence can convey how the atmosphere suddenly changed.

「〜続ける」 usage ④ | Expressing an action that continues over time

「〜続ける」 indicates that an action or activity continues. It is commonly translated as “keep doing…” or “continue doing…” in English. For example, 「読み続ける」 means to keep reading, 「話し続ける」 means to keep talking, and 「働き続ける」 means to continue working.

This form is generally used with verbs describing actions that can continue over a period of time. It also frequently appears with time expressions such as 「ずっと」 (continuously), 「一時間」 (one hour), and 「何年も」 (for many years). It can describe an action that continues without stopping for a certain period, or an activity maintained over the long term. This does not mean the person must be performing the same action every moment throughout that entire period.

• Example: 彼は一時間ずっと話し続けました。
  Kana: かれはいちじかんずっとはなしつづけました。
  Translation: He kept talking for an hour.
  「話し続ける」 indicates that the action of speaking continues. Combined with 「一時間ずっと」, it emphasizes that he spent almost the entire hour talking.
• Example: 朝から雨が降り続けています。
  Kana: あさからあめがふりつづけています。
  Translation: It has been raining continuously since this morning.
  「降り続ける」 indicates that the rainy conditions have continued. 「朝から」 identifies when the rain began, while 「〜ています」 indicates that the situation is still continuing.
• Example: 彼女は何年も日本語を勉強し続けています。
  Kana: かのじょはなんねんもにほんごをべんきょうしつづけています。
  Translation: She has continued studying Japanese for many years.
  「勉強し続ける」 indicates that a learning activity has continued over a long period. Here, it means that she has kept studying Japanese for years, not that she studies every day without taking any breaks.

「〜終わる」 usage ⑤ | Expressing the completion of an action

「〜終わる」 indicates that an action has been carried through to the end and completed. It is commonly translated as “finish doing…” in English. For example, 「読み終わる」 means to finish reading, 「食べ終わる」 means to finish eating, and 「書き終わる」 means to finish writing.

This form is suitable for activities with a clear point of completion, such as reading a book, eating a meal, or writing a report. Unlike the simple past tense, 「〜終わる」 specifically indicates that the entire action has been completed. For example, 「本を読みました」 means that someone read a book, but it does not necessarily tell us whether they finished it. In contrast, 「本を読み終わりました」 clearly indicates that the book was read through to the end.

• Example: やっとレポートを書き終わりました。
  Kana: やっとレポートをかきおわりました。
  Translation: I finally finished writing the report.
  「書き終わる」 indicates that the action of writing the report has been completed. Combined with 「やっと」 (finally), it can convey the feeling of finally finishing something after spending time on it.
• Example: もう昼ご飯を食べ終わりました。
  Kana: もうひるごはんをたべおわりました。
  Translation: I've already finished lunch.
  「食べ終わる」 indicates that the meal has ended. Combined with 「もう」 (already), it can explain that the person has finished eating and does not need to continue the meal.
• Example: 昨日、この本を読み終わりました。
  Kana: きのう、このほんをよみおわりました。
  Translation: I finished reading this book yesterday.
  「読み終わる」 indicates that the entire book has been read. Compared with 「昨日、この本を読みました」, using 「読み終わる」 makes it clear that the reading has been completed.

「〜直す」 usage ⑥ | Expressing repetition or correction of an action

「〜直す」 indicates that something is done again, often because it was originally done incorrectly, was incomplete, or needs to be checked again. For example, 「書き直す」 means to rewrite, 「言い直す」 means to say something again, and 「調べ直す」 means to look something up or check it again.

This form does not necessarily mean that the first attempt was a complete failure. It can be used when someone simply says something incorrectly or needs to check something again because circumstances have changed. It differs slightly from the simple expression 「もう一度＋動詞」. The latter merely means performing an action again, while 「〜直す」 more readily suggests correcting, adjusting, or reworking the original result.

• Example: 間違えたので、もう一度書き直しました。
  Kana: まちがえたので、もういちどかきなおしました。
  Translation: I made a mistake, so I wrote it again.
  「書き直す」 indicates that something was wrong with the original writing, so it was rewritten. Here, 「直す」 carries the meaning of correcting a mistake.
• Example: 名前を言い間違えたので、言い直しました。
  Kana: なまえをいいまちがえたので、いいなおしました。
  Translation: I said the name incorrectly, so I said it again.
  「言い直す」 indicates that something previously said is repeated. Because the preceding part explains that the name was said incorrectly, 「言い直す」 carries the meaning of making a correction.
• Example: 予定が変わったので、電車の時間を調べ直しました。
  Kana: よていがかわったので、でんしゃのじかんをしらべなおしました。
  Translation: My plans changed, so I checked the train times again.
  「調べ直す」 indicates that the information had already been checked, but changing circumstances made another check necessary. The original information was not necessarily wrong; it simply needed to be checked again.

What's the difference between 「始める」 and 「出す」? Comparing examples about rain

Both 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 can indicate the beginning of an action in Japanese, but they differ slightly in nuance. 「〜始める」 usually simply states that something has begun and is suitable for planned actions, habits, and natural changes. 「〜出す」, on the other hand, often suggests that an action suddenly begins, especially in situations involving rain, crying, or laughter that was not occurring before.

Beyond these two ways of expressing a beginning, 「〜続ける」「〜終わる」「〜直す」 and 「〜すぎる」 can also be confusing because their meanings may seem similar in translation. For example, 「読み続ける」 and 「読み終わる」 both relate to reading, but the former emphasizes continuation while the latter indicates completion. Similarly, 「食べ終わる」 means to finish eating, whereas 「食べすぎる」 means to eat too much. Finishing an action does not necessarily mean it was performed excessively.

Comparison	「〜すぎる」	「〜始める」	「〜出す」	「〜続ける」	「〜終わる」	「〜直す」
Basic meaning	Do something too much / excessively	Start doing something	Start doing something / begin suddenly	Continue doing something	Finish doing something	Do something again
Main nuance	Exceeds an appropriate degree	Neutrally states the beginning	Draws attention to the moment an action starts, often suggesting suddenness	An action continues	An action is completed	Repetition or correction
Main focus	Amount, duration, or degree of an action	Starting point of an action	A new action suddenly appearing	Process of continuing an action	Endpoint of an action	An action being performed again
Emphasizes suddenness	No	Usually not	Often, but not always	No	No	No
Indicates completion	Not necessarily	Not necessarily	Not necessarily	Not necessarily	Yes	Indicates repetition without necessarily specifying whether the entire action is complete
Common accompanying expressions	たくさん、長時間、ちょっと	今日から、最近、そろそろ	急に、突然、いきなり	ずっと、何時間も、毎日	もう、やっと、全部	もう一度、間違えたので、改めて
Suitable situations	Eating too much, working too long, prices being too high	Starting to read, study, or work	Sudden rain, beginning to cry, bursting into laughter	Continuing to read or work	Finishing a book, meal, or report	Rewriting something incorrect, checking again, correcting what was said
Example	食べすぎる	食べ始める	泣き出す	読み続ける	読み終わる	書き直す
Example translation	Eat too much	Start eating	Start crying	Keep reading	Finish reading	Rewrite

▌「〜始める」 vs. 「〜出す」 | A neutral beginning vs. a sudden beginning

Both 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 indicate that an action has begun. The difference lies in how the speaker describes the beginning. 「〜始める」 is relatively neutral and can be used for scheduled actions, gradual changes, or simply stating when something begins. 「〜出す」 is often used when an action that was not occurring before suddenly starts, drawing more attention to the moment of onset.

For example, both 「雨が降り始めた」 and 「雨が降り出した」 mean that it started raining. If you are simply reporting that rain began at three in the afternoon, 「降り始める」 sounds natural. If rain suddenly starts just after you leave a station, 「降り出す」 more effectively conveys the change at that moment.

However, 「〜出す」 does not always have to be translated as “suddenly,” and the two expressions cannot be distinguished solely by how quickly an action begins. For example, 「来月から日本語を勉強し始めます」 states when someone plans to start studying Japanese, so casually replacing it with 「勉強し出します」 would not be appropriate.

• Example: 午後三時ごろ、雨が降り始めました。
  Kana: ごごさんじごろ、あめがふりはじめました。
  Translation: It started raining at around three in the afternoon.
  「降り始める」 simply states when the rain began. The sentence gives a specific time without particularly suggesting that the rain started suddenly or that the speaker was surprised.
• Example: 駅を出たとたん、雨が降り出しました。
  Kana: えきをでたとたん、あめがふりだしました。
  Translation: As soon as I stepped out of the station, it started raining.
  Combining 「降り出す」 with 「〜たとたん」 (as soon as…) makes the sudden beginning of the rain more apparent. What the speaker notices is the immediate change in the weather after leaving the station.

▌「〜始める」 vs. 「〜続ける」 | Beginning an action vs. continuing an action

「〜始める」 indicates that an action moves from not taking place to beginning. 「〜続ける」 indicates that an action continues over a period of time. Both can be used with verbs describing activities that can last for some time, such as reading, studying, or working, but they focus on different points in time.

For example, 「本を読み始めました」 means that someone started reading a book, without specifying how long they continued afterward. 「本を読み続けました」 indicates that reading continued for some time, without specifically stating when it first began.

If a sentence contains expressions indicating a starting point, such as 「今日から」 or 「最近」, 「〜始める」 may be appropriate. If it contains expressions emphasizing duration, such as 「ずっと」 or 「何時間も」, 「〜続ける」 may be more suitable. However, the final choice still depends on what the entire sentence describes.

• Example: 夜九時に、本を読み始めました。
  Kana: よるくじに、ほんをよみはじめました。
  Translation: I started reading a book at nine in the evening.
  「読み始める」 indicates that reading began at nine in the evening. The sentence does not provide further information about how many pages were read or how long the reading continued.
• Example: 夜九時を過ぎても、本を読み続けました。
  Kana: よるくじをすぎても、ほんをよみつづけました。
  Translation: I kept reading even after nine in the evening.
  「読み続ける」 emphasizes that reading did not stop even after nine o'clock. The sentence describes the continuation of reading rather than the moment it began.

▌「〜続ける」 vs. 「〜終わる」 | Continuing an action vs. completing it

Both 「〜続ける」 and 「〜終わる」 can be used with verbs such as reading, writing, and eating. However, the former focuses on the process of continuing an action, while the latter directly indicates that the action has been completed.

For example, 「本を読み続けました」 means that someone continued reading a book. They might have read for an hour or throughout the afternoon, but that does not necessarily mean they finished the book. 「本を読み終わりました」 clearly indicates that the specified material has been read to the end. Even without stating how long it took, we know that the reading was completed.

These two forms can also describe different stages of the same activity. For example, 「二時間読み続けて、やっと読み終わりました」 means that someone kept reading for two hours and finally finished. The 「続ける」 and 「終わる」 in this sentence describe different parts of the process and cannot be treated as having the same meaning.

• Example: 二時間、本を読み続けました。
  Kana: にじかん、ほんをよみつづけました。
  Translation: I kept reading a book for two hours.
  「読み続ける」 emphasizes that reading continued for two hours. Even though the person read for a long time, this sentence alone does not tell us whether they finished the entire book.
• Example: 二時間かけて、本を読み終わりました。
  Kana: にじかんかけて、ほんをよみおわりました。
  Translation: It took me two hours to finish reading the book.
  「読み終わる」 clearly indicates that reading was completed. 「二時間かけて」 adds information about how long completion took, making the meaning different from simply continuing to read for two hours.

▌「〜終わる」 vs. 「〜直す」 | Completing an action vs. doing it again

「〜終わる」 indicates that an action has been completed, but it does not guarantee that the result is correct or satisfactory. 「〜直す」 means to perform an action again, usually because the original content needs correction, needs to be checked again, or the person wants to change the previous approach.

For example, 「レポートを書き終わりました」 means that the report has been written, but it does not say whether its contents are correct. 「レポートを書き直しました」 indicates that the report had already been written and was then rewritten. This could be because an error was discovered or simply because the writer wanted to adjust the content.

Therefore, 「〜直す」 does not necessarily mean that the first attempt was a complete failure. For example, 「予定が変わったので、電車の時間を調べ直しました」 simply indicates that a change in plans made it necessary to check the train times again. The information originally found was not necessarily incorrect.

• Example: やっとレポートを書き終わりました。
  Kana: やっとレポートをかきおわりました。
  Translation: I finally finished writing the report.
  「書き終わる」 indicates that the action of writing the report has been completed. The sentence does not evaluate the quality of the report or suggest that it needs revision.
• Example: 間違いに気づいたので、レポートを書き直しました。
  Kana: まちがいにきづいたので、レポートをかきなおしました。
  Translation: I noticed a mistake, so I rewrote the report.
  「書き直す」 indicates that the report had already been written but was reworked after a problem was discovered. The emphasis is on the act of rewriting rather than when the first version was finished.

▌「〜終わる」 vs. 「〜すぎる」 | Completing an action vs. doing it excessively

「〜終わる」 and 「〜すぎる」 can appear in the same contexts, such as eating, reading, or working, but they describe completely different things. 「〜終わる」 only indicates that an action has been completed, while 「〜すぎる」 indicates that its quantity, duration, or degree exceeds an appropriate range.

For example, 「食べ終わりました」 means that someone has finished eating, but they may have eaten just the right amount or very little. 「食べすぎました」 means that they ate too much, and it can be used even if they have not finished all the food.

Similarly, 「仕事が終わりました」 means that work has finished, while 「働きすぎました」 means that someone worked excessively. You cannot use 「〜すぎる」 simply because something has been completed, nor can you assume that an action has been completed just because it was performed excessively.

• Example: もう昼ご飯を食べ終わりました。
  Kana: もうひるごはんをたべおわりました。
  Translation: I've already finished lunch.
  「食べ終わる」 indicates that the meal has ended. This sentence only describes completion and does not say whether the amount eaten was excessive.
• Example: 昼ご飯を食べすぎて、午後は眠くなりました。
  Kana: ひるごはんをたべすぎて、ごごはねむくなりました。
  Translation: I ate too much lunch, so I felt sleepy in the afternoon.
  「食べすぎる」 indicates that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level. The rest of the sentence adds the effect of eating too much. The focus is on the excessive amount rather than whether the meal was finished.

▌「〜続ける」 vs. 「〜すぎる」 | Continuing for a period vs. exceeding an appropriate degree

「〜続ける」 indicates that an action continues, while 「〜すぎる」 indicates that something is done too much, for too long, or beyond an appropriate degree. Both can relate to time, but continuing something for a long time is not the same as doing it for too long.

For example, 「一時間話し続けました」 simply states that someone continued speaking for an hour and does not necessarily carry a negative judgment. 「話しすぎました」 indicates that someone talked too much, which could mean speaking for too long or revealing something that should not have been said.

Likewise, 「三時間勉強し続けました」 describes a situation in which someone continued studying for three hours, whereas 「勉強しすぎました」 indicates that the duration or intensity of studying exceeded an appropriate level. Even if the two sentences describe the same period of time, the feeling the speaker wants to convey is different.

• Example: 彼は一時間ずっと話し続けました。
  Kana: かれはいちじかんずっとはなしつづけました。
  Translation: He kept talking for an hour.
  「話し続ける」 emphasizes that the action of speaking continued for an hour. The sentence itself does not judge whether that was too long.
• Example: 会議で話しすぎて、少し疲れました。
  Kana: かいぎではなしすぎて、すこしつかれました。
  Translation: I talked too much during the meeting and felt a little tired.
  「話しすぎる」 indicates that the duration or amount of speaking exceeded an appropriate level. Here, it conveys the speaker's feeling that they talked too much, unlike a neutral description of continued speaking.

▌Different nuances when using different verbs in the same situation

Imagine someone expressing their opinion during a company meeting. By attaching 「始める」「出す」「続ける」「終わる」「直す」 or 「すぎる」 to the same verb, 「話す」 (to speak), you can describe different situations.

「話し始める」 indicates that someone begins speaking, while 「話し出す」 often gives the impression that a previously quiet person suddenly starts talking. 「話し続ける」 indicates continued speaking, and 「話し終わる」 indicates that the person has finished speaking. 「話し直す」 means to explain something again, while 「話しすぎる」 carries the judgment that someone has spoken too much.

Expression	English translation	What does it emphasize?
話し始める	Start speaking	Speaking begins at this point
話し出す	Suddenly start talking	Someone who was not speaking suddenly starts
話し続ける	Keep speaking	Speaking continues for a period of time
話し終わる	Finish speaking	Speaking has ended
話し直す	Say something again	Something has already been said but needs to be explained again
話しすぎる	Talk too much	The duration, content, or amount of speaking exceeds an appropriate level

① Using 「〜始める」: Indicating that someone starts speaking

• Example: 会議で、彼は話し始めました。
  Kana: かいぎで、かれははなしはじめました。
  Translation: He started speaking at the meeting.
  This sentence simply states that he began speaking. It does not specifically indicate whether he started suddenly or how long he continued afterward.

② Using 「〜出す」: Suddenly speaking after being quiet

• Example: 会議で、静かだった彼が急に話し出しました。
  Kana: かいぎで、しずかだったかれがきゅうにはなしだしました。
  Translation: During the meeting, he had been quiet but suddenly started speaking.
  Combining 「話し出す」 with 「急に」 creates the impression that someone who had not been speaking suddenly began to talk. The emphasis is on the change at the moment he started speaking.

③ Using 「〜続ける」: Continuing to speak for a period of time

• Example: 会議で、彼は十分間話し続けました。
  Kana: かいぎで、かれはじゅっぷんかんはなしつづけました。
  Translation: He kept speaking for ten minutes during the meeting.
  「話し続ける」 describes continued speaking. Although the sentence mentions ten minutes, it does not suggest that this duration was excessive or make any particular judgment about what he said.

④ Using 「〜終わる」: Indicating that speaking has ended

• Example: 会議で、彼は予定より早く話し終わりました。
  Kana: かいぎで、かれはよていよりはやくはなしおわりました。
  Translation: He finished speaking earlier than scheduled at the meeting.
  「話し終わる」 indicates that the speech has been completed. 「予定より早く」 adds that he finished earlier than originally planned.

⑤ Using 「〜直す」: Explaining something previously said again

• Example: 会議で、彼は言い間違えた部分を話し直しました。
  Kana: かいぎで、かれはいいまちがえたぶぶんをはなしなおしました。
  Translation: During the meeting, he restated the part he had said incorrectly.
  「話し直す」 indicates that something had already been said but needed to be explained again because of an error. This is not the beginning of a new statement; it is a correction of something previously said.

⑥ Using 「〜すぎる」: Judging that someone spoke too much

• Example: 会議で、彼は話しすぎました。
  Kana: かいぎで、かれははなしすぎました。
  Translation: He talked too much during the meeting.
  「話しすぎる」 indicates that the amount of speaking exceeded an appropriate level. He might have spoken for too long or said too much. Compared with 「話し続ける」, this sentence already contains a judgment of excess.

All six sentences take place in a meeting and use 「話す」, but 「始める」「出す」「続ける」 and 「終わる」 primarily describe the beginning, continuation, or ending of an action. 「直す」 indicates doing something again, while 「すぎる」 indicates excess.

Therefore, when answering JLPT N4 questions comparing compound verbs, first determine whether the sentence concerns when something started, how long it continued, whether it has been completed, whether it needs to be done again, or whether it was done too much. If both 「始める」 and 「出す」 appear as options, look more closely at whether the action feels sudden and whether the surrounding context provides clues.

Where do compound verbs appear in conversations when traveling in Japan?

Japanese compound verbs are often used to describe changes in actions during a trip to Japan. Examples include rain suddenly starting, finishing a meal, checking train times again, or wanting to rest after walking all day. Even when both expressions mean “start,” using 「〜始める」 rather than 「〜出す」 creates a different nuance. Similarly, you need to distinguish between 「〜終わる」 and 「〜すぎる」 when explaining whether you have finished eating or eaten too much.

These expressions sound natural in everyday conversations between friends and can also be changed into polite forms depending on whom you are speaking to. For example, 「食べ終わった？」 is a casual way to ask a friend whether they have finished eating, while 「食べ終わりましたか？」 is more polite. However, when speaking with restaurant staff, the service context also matters, and a compound verb may not necessarily be used directly.

▌Situation ① | It suddenly starts raining outside the station, and friends discuss whether to wait for it to stop

A：あ、雨が降り始めたね。
　　あ、あめがふりはじめたね。
　　Oh, it's starting to rain.

B：さっきまで晴れてたのに、急に降り出したね。駅で少し待とう。
　　さっきまではれてたのに、きゅうにふりだしたね。えきですこしまとう。
　　It was sunny just a moment ago, but now it's suddenly raining. Let's wait at the station for a while.

📌 Grammar Point: A uses 「降り始める」 to simply state that it has started raining. B uses 「降り出す」 together with 「さっきまで晴れてたのに」 (even though it was sunny just a moment ago) and 「急に」 (suddenly) to describe an unexpected change in the weather. Both patterns can describe the beginning of rainfall, but 「降り出す」 draws more attention to the moment the rain suddenly starts falling. If you are simply saying that it started raining around three in the afternoon, 「降り始める」 sounds natural, and there is no need to deliberately replace it with 「降り出す」.

▌Situation ② | After finishing a meal at a restaurant, friends talk about having eaten too much

A：もう食べ終わった？
　　もうたべおわった？
　　Have you finished eating already?

B：うん。おいしかったけど、ちょっと食べすぎた。
　　うん。おいしかったけど、ちょっとたべすぎた。
　　Yeah. It was delicious, but I ate a little too much.

📌 Grammar Point: 「食べ終わる」 indicates that the action of eating has been completed. A is simply checking whether the other person has finished eating, not asking how much they ate. B uses 「食べすぎる」 to add that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level. The two patterns can appear in the same conversation, but they have different meanings: finishing a meal does not mean eating too much, and eating too much does not necessarily mean finishing everything on the plate. Also, 「食べ終わった？」 is a casual expression used between friends. When restaurant staff check whether a customer has finished their meal, expressions appropriate to customer service, such as 「お食事はお済みですか」, are more commonly used.

▌Situation ③ | Missing a train you had already checked and needing to look up the next departure

A：さっき調べた電車、もう出ちゃったね。
　　さっきしらべたでんしゃ、もうでちゃったね。
　　The train we looked up earlier has already left.

B：じゃあ、次の電車の時間を調べ直そう。
　　じゃあ、つぎのでんしゃのじかんをしらべなおそう。
　　Then let's check the time of the next train again.

📌 Grammar Point: 「調べ直す」 indicates that something has already been checked but needs to be checked again because the situation has changed. A mentions that the train they previously looked up has already departed, so B uses 「調べ直す」. Compared with simply saying 「調べる」 (to look up), this more clearly expresses the idea of checking again. Here, 「〜直す」 does not mean that the information originally found was wrong; it means that the previous search results no longer meet their current needs. When traveling in Japan, 「調べ直す」 may be useful if you take the wrong train, miss a departure, or change your itinerary unexpectedly.

▌Situation ④ | After walking around sightseeing all day, a friend suggests resting at a café

A：朝からずっと歩き続けてるね。少し休まない？
　　あさからずっとあるきつづけてるね。すこしやすまない？
　　We've been walking since this morning. Want to take a short break?

B：うん、ちょっと歩きすぎたかも。あのカフェで休もう。
　　うん、ちょっとあるきすぎたかも。あのカフェでやすもう。
　　Yeah, maybe we've walked a bit too much. Let's rest at that café.

📌 Grammar Point: 「歩き続ける」 indicates continued walking. A uses 「朝からずっと」 to specify the time, explaining that they have been walking since morning. B uses 「歩きすぎる」 to indicate that the duration or distance of walking has exceeded an appropriate level and that they are feeling somewhat tired. Both patterns can be used when discussing a long period of walking, but 「〜続ける」 simply describes continuation, whereas 「〜すぎる」 includes a judgment of excess. Also, 「〜かも」 is a casual contraction of 「〜かもしれない」, giving B's reply the nuance of “Maybe we really have walked too much.”

Additional Usage Notes:

1. Although 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 can both indicate the beginning of an action, they are not interchangeable in every situation. For example, when rain suddenly begins, both 「降り始める」 and 「降り出す」 can be used, but their nuances differ. If you are planning to start sightseeing tomorrow, you would normally say 「明日から観光を始める」 rather than deliberately changing it to 「観光をし出す」. The former is suitable for describing the beginning of a planned activity, while the latter sounds unnatural in this context. Also, 「〜出す」 does not always mean that an action begins suddenly. For example, 「取り出す」 means to take something out. When you encounter an unfamiliar compound verb, you still need to check the meaning of the entire word.
2. 「〜続ける」「〜終わる」 and 「〜直す」 can describe different stages of the same activity, but you cannot assume their meanings are similar simply because the initial verb is the same. For example, when reading an e-book on your phone while traveling, 「読み続ける」 means to keep reading, 「読み終わる」 means to finish reading, and 「読み直す」 means to read something again. In particular, 「〜直す」 does not necessarily mean the first attempt was incorrect. It can also be used when someone wants to check or understand the content again. In actual usage, consider whether the speaker wants to describe continuation, completion, or repetition.
3. 「〜すぎる」 is often used to express physical sensations or evaluations of things while traveling. Examples include 「食べすぎた」 (I ate too much), 「歩きすぎた」 (I walked too much), and 「高すぎる」 (It's too expensive). However, it does not always express a negative complaint. When friends say 「おいしすぎる」 (It's unbelievably delicious), they may be strongly praising the food. In contrast, 「〜終わる」 and 「〜続ける」 generally do not carry this kind of judgment of excess. When choosing a compound verb, consider not only the action itself but also whether the sentence expresses the speaker's feelings.

How do Japanese 「〜始める／〜出す」 compare with Korean 「-기 시작하다／갑자기」?

Both Japanese 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」 can indicate the beginning of an action, while Korean 「-기 시작하다」 can also explain when something begins. The three expressions therefore share many similar usage contexts. For example, 「勉強し始める」 can correspond to 「공부하기 시작하다」, while 「雨が降り始める」 can correspond to 「비가 오기 시작하다」.

However, Japanese 「〜出す」 often carries a sense of suddenness, whereas Korean 「-기 시작하다」 does not necessarily convey that nuance on its own. To express that something which was not previously happening suddenly begins, Korean can add 「갑자기」 (suddenly) or use different expressions depending on the verb, such as 「울음을 터뜨리다」 (to burst into tears) or 「웃음을 터뜨리다」 (to burst into laughter).

◆ Similar expression ①: 「-기 시작하다」

Korean 「-기 시작하다」 indicates that an action, activity, or change begins and is very close in basic meaning to Japanese 「〜始める」. Both can be used in situations involving starting to study, beginning to read, or the onset of a natural phenomenon. They can also be combined with a specific starting time.

For example, Japanese 「日本語を勉強し始めました」 and Korean 「일본어를 공부하기 시작했어요」 both indicate that someone started studying Japanese. Neither sentence particularly emphasizes that it happened suddenly. The focus is on an activity moving from a state in which it was not taking place to one in which it has begun.

• Example: 지난달부터 일본어를 공부하기 시작했어요.
  Romanization: ji-nan-dal-bu-teo il-bo-neo-reul gong-bu-ha-gi si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I started studying Japanese last month.
  Japanese: 先月から日本語を勉強し始めました。
  Kana: せんげつからにほんごをべんきょうしはじめました。
  Korean 「공부하기 시작하다」 and Japanese 「勉強し始める」 can both indicate when studying began. They are combined with 「지난달부터」 and 「先月から」, respectively, to show that it started last month, without suggesting a sudden occurrence.
• Example: 비가 오기 시작했어요.
  Romanization: bi-ga o-gi si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It started raining.
  Japanese: 雨が降り始めました。
  Kana: あめがふりはじめました。
  Korean 「비가 오기 시작하다」 and Japanese 「雨が降り始める」 both simply state that rain has begun. There is no need to deliberately add the meaning of “suddenly” to this comparison because neither sentence provides a context suggesting a sudden event.
• Example: 책을 읽기 시작했어요.
  Romanization: chae-geul ik-kki si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I started reading a book.
  Japanese: 本を読み始めました。
  Kana: ほんをよみはじめました。
  Korean 「읽기 시작하다」 and Japanese 「読み始める」 both indicate the beginning of reading. Neither sentence specifies how long the person read or whether they finished, so they cannot be interpreted as indicating that the reading was completed.

◆ Similar expression ②: 「갑자기＋verb」

Japanese 「〜出す」 is often used to describe an action that was not previously happening but suddenly begins, as in 「降り出す」「泣き出す」 and 「笑い出す」. Korean does not have a single fixed ending that can directly replace 「〜出す」 in every situation. Instead, different expressions are chosen depending on the action.

To describe rain suddenly starting, you can use 「갑자기 비가 오기 시작하다」. To describe a baby suddenly starting to cry, you can also use 「갑자기 울기 시작하다」. However, if you want to emphasize laughter suddenly bursting out, Korean 「웃음을 터뜨리다」 may fit the situation better than simply using 「웃기 시작하다」.

• Example: 갑자기 비가 오기 시작했어요.
  Romanization: gap-jja-gi bi-ga o-gi si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It suddenly started raining.
  Japanese: 急に雨が降り出しました。
  Kana: きゅうにあめがふりだしました。
  Japanese 「降り出す」 itself tends to suggest that rain suddenly begins, while Korean explicitly adds the sense of suddenness through 「갑자기」. Both sentences are suitable for a situation in which it was not raining before but the weather suddenly changed.
• Example: 아기가 갑자기 울기 시작했어요.
  Romanization: a-gi-ga gap-jja-gi ul-gi si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The baby suddenly started crying.
  Japanese: 赤ちゃんが急に泣き出しました。
  Kana: あかちゃんがきゅうになきだしました。
  Korean 「울기 시작하다」 simply means to start crying. Adding 「갑자기」 before it explicitly indicates that the crying began suddenly. Japanese 「泣き出す」 is often used to describe the noticeable change from not crying to crying.
• Example: 그 말을 듣고 모두 웃음을 터뜨렸어요.
  Romanization: geu ma-reul deut-kko mo-du u-seu-meul teo-tteu-ryeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: Everyone burst into laughter after hearing those words.
  Japanese: その話を聞いて、みんなが笑い出しました。
  Kana: そのはなしをきいて、みんながわらいだしました。
  Korean 「웃음을 터뜨리다」 emphasizes laughter suddenly bursting out, while Japanese 「笑い出す」 indicates the beginning of laughing. Both sentences can describe people suddenly laughing after hearing something, but Korean 「웃음을 터뜨리다」 usually conveys a stronger emotional reaction.

◆ Key differences from Korean 「-기 시작하다／갑자기」:

The closest similarity between Japanese 「〜始める」 and Korean 「-기 시작하다」 is that both can neutrally describe the beginning of an action without specifying whether it happened suddenly. Natural equivalents exist in both languages for situations such as starting to study Japanese, beginning to read a book, or rain starting to fall.

The situation is different with 「〜出す」. In Japanese, 「出す」 can be attached directly to a verb to express the change that occurs when an action begins. Korean generally requires adding 「갑자기」 when appropriate or using a different verbal expression, such as 「웃음을 터뜨리다」.

Therefore, 「〜出す」 cannot always be translated as 「갑자기＋-기 시작하다」. For example, 「笑い出す」 can be rendered as 「웃기 시작하다」「갑자기 웃기 시작하다」 or 「웃음을 터뜨리다」 depending on the context. Whether the action was sudden and how strong the emotional reaction was both affect which translation sounds most natural.

How do Japanese 「〜続ける／〜終わる」 compare with Korean 「계속하다／끝내다」?

Japanese 「〜続ける」 and 「〜終わる」 describe the continuation and completion of an action, respectively. Korean can express the same meanings, but the sentence structures are not necessarily the same as in Japanese.

For example, 「読み続ける」 can correspond to 「계속 읽다」 (to keep reading), while 「読み終わる」 can be expressed as 「다 읽다」 (to finish reading everything). In Korean, 「계속」 can be placed before a verb, and 「계속하다」 can also be used to express continuing an activity. Completion, meanwhile, is often expressed using forms such as 「다」 or 「끝내다」.

◆ Similar expression ①: 「계속／계속하다」

Korean 「계속」 indicates continuation, an uninterrupted process, or carrying on with an activity. In this respect, it is similar to Japanese 「〜続ける」. For example, 「話し続ける」 can correspond to 「계속 이야기하다」, while 「降り続ける」 can correspond to 「계속 비가 내리다」.

However, Japanese 「〜続ける」 attaches after the preceding verb, while Korean 「계속」 is usually placed before the verb. Korean can also use expressions such as 「공부를 계속하다」 to indicate that someone continues studying. Therefore, Japanese attachment rules cannot be applied directly to Korean.

• Example: 그는 한 시간 동안 계속 이야기했어요.
  Romanization: geu-neun han si-gan dong-an gye-sok i-ya-gi-hae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: He kept talking for an hour.
  Japanese: 彼は一時間ずっと話し続けました。
  Kana: かれはいちじかんずっとはなしつづけました。
  Korean 「계속 이야기하다」 and Japanese 「話し続ける」 both indicate that speaking continues for a period of time. Korean expresses continuation through 「계속」, while Japanese uses 「続ける」 as the second part of the compound. Neither sentence indicates that the person spoke for too long.
• Example: 아침부터 비가 계속 내리고 있어요.
  Romanization: a-chim-bu-teo bi-ga gye-sok nae-ri-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: It has been raining continuously since this morning.
  Japanese: 朝から雨が降り続いています。
  Kana: あさからあめがふりつづいています。
  Korean 「계속 내리고 있다」 and Japanese 「降り続いている」 both indicate that rain is still continuing. Korean uses 「-고 있다」 to describe an ongoing state, while Japanese combines 「〜続ける」 with 「〜ている」. In this context, the meanings are similar.
• Example: 그녀는 지금도 일본어를 계속 공부하고 있어요.
  Romanization: geu-nyeo-neun ji-geum-do il-bo-neo-reul gye-sok gong-bu-ha-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: She is still continuing to study Japanese.
  Japanese: 彼女は今も日本語を勉強し続けています。

Japanese: 彼女は今も日本語を勉強し続けています。

Kana: かのじょはいまもにほんごをべんきょうしつづけています。

Korean 「계속 공부하고 있다」 and Japanese 「勉強し続けている」 both indicate that a learning activity has continued from the past into the present. Here, the meaning is that she has continued studying Japanese over a long period, not that she studies every moment without taking breaks.

◆ Similar expression ②: 「다＋verb／끝내다」

Korean often uses expressions such as 「다＋verb」 or 「끝내다」 to indicate that an action has been completed. For example, 「다 먹다」 means to eat everything, 「다 읽다」 means to finish reading everything, and 「일을 끝내다」 means to finish work.

Japanese 「〜終わる」 can be attached directly to a verb to indicate that the action has been completed. Korean, however, selects a natural expression according to the verb and its object. For example, 「食べ終わる」 can usually correspond to 「다 먹다」, while expressions related to completing work, such as 「仕事を終わる」, may require 「일을 끝내다」.

• Example: 점심을 다 먹었어요.
  Romanization: jeom-si-meul da meo-geo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I've already finished lunch.
  Japanese: 昼ご飯を食べ終わりました。
  Kana: ひるごはんをたべおわりました。
  Korean 「다 먹다」 and Japanese 「食べ終わる」 both clearly indicate that the meal is finished. Korean uses 「다」 to add the meaning of eating everything, while Japanese uses 「終わる」 to indicate that the action of eating has ended.
• Example: 보고서를 다 썼어요.
  Romanization: bo-go-seo-reul da sseo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I've already finished writing the report.
  Japanese: レポートを書き終わりました。
  Kana: レポートをかきおわりました。
  Korean 「다 쓰다」 and Japanese 「書き終わる」 both indicate that writing has been completed. The sentence only states that the report has been written and does not evaluate whether its contents are correct. Nor does it necessarily mean that no further revisions are needed.
• Example: 이 책을 끝까지 읽었어요.
  Romanization: i chae-geul kkeut-kka-ji il-geo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I've already finished reading this book.
  Japanese: この本を読み終わりました。
  Kana: このほんをよみおわりました。
  Korean 「끝까지 읽다」 indicates reading all the way to the end, while Japanese 「読み終わる」 directly indicates that reading has been completed. In this comparison, Korean uses 「끝까지」 to express reaching the end, so there is no need to add 「끝내다」.

◆ Key differences from Korean 「계속／끝내다」:

Both Japanese 「〜続ける」 and Korean 「계속」 can indicate continuation. However, Japanese usually attaches 「続ける」 after the first verb, while Korean often places 「계속」 before the verb or uses 「계속하다」 to express continuing an activity.

As for 「〜終わる」, Korean does not have one fixed form that can replace it in every sentence. In situations involving finishing eating, reading, or writing, expressions such as 「다 먹다」「다 읽다」 and 「다 쓰다」 can be used. When describing the completion of work or a task, 「끝내다」 may also be appropriate.

In addition, Korean 「-아/어 버리다」 can express the thorough completion of an action, but it often carries additional feelings such as regret, relief, or other emotions. Therefore, it cannot be treated as a fixed equivalent of Japanese 「〜終わる」. When simply describing finishing a meal, 「다 먹었어요」 is generally more neutral.

How do Japanese 「〜直す／〜すぎる」 compare with Korean 「다시／너무」?

Japanese 「〜直す」 indicates that an action is performed again, while 「〜すぎる」 indicates that an action or degree exceeds an appropriate level. Korean can express similar meanings using 「다시」 and 「너무」, respectively, among other expressions.

For example, 「書き直す」 can correspond to 「다시 쓰다」 (to write again), while 「食べすぎる」 can correspond to 「너무 많이 먹다」 (to eat too much). However, 「다시」 itself simply means doing something again and does not necessarily imply correction. Likewise, 「너무」 does not always carry a negative judgment, so the meaning must be understood in the context of the entire sentence.

◆ Similar expression ①: 「다시」

Korean 「다시」 means “again” or “anew” and is used in situations similar to Japanese 「〜直す」. For example, 「書き直す」 can be expressed as 「다시 쓰다」, and 「読み直す」 can correspond to 「다시 읽다」. Depending on the context, 「調べ直す」 can be expressed using forms such as 「다시 확인하다」 or 「다시 찾아보다」.

The main difference is that Korean 「다시」 does not necessarily indicate that something was wrong with the original action. It simply means performing an action again, so it can also be used for straightforward repetition. Japanese 「〜直す」, however, more readily suggests reworking something previously done and usually carries a sense of correction, checking again, or starting over.

• Example: 틀려서 다시 썼어요.
  Romanization: teul-lyeo-seo da-si sseo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I made a mistake, so I wrote it again.
  Japanese: 間違えたので、書き直しました。
  Kana: まちがえたので、かきなおしました。
  Korean 「다시 쓰다」 means to write again, while the preceding 「틀려서」 (because it was wrong) explains why the writing was repeated. Japanese 「書き直す」 already carries the meaning of rewriting or correcting something, so the two expressions have very similar nuances in this context.
• Example: 문장을 다시 읽었어요.
  Romanization: mun-jang-eul da-si il-geo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I read the sentence again.
  Japanese: 文を読み直しました。
  Kana: ぶんをよみなおしました。
  Korean 「다시 읽다」 simply indicates reading again without necessarily explaining why. Japanese 「読み直す」 more readily suggests wanting to check the content again or not having fully understood it during the first reading. The two expressions can appear in the same situations, but the sense of reviewing the content is usually more apparent in Japanese.
• Example: 계획이 바뀌어서 전철 시간을 다시 확인했어요.
  Romanization: gye-hoe-gi ba-kkwi-eo-seo jeon-cheol si-ga-neul da-si hwa-gin-hae-sseo-yo.
  Translation: My plans changed, so I checked the train times again.
  Japanese: 予定が変わったので、電車の時間を調べ直しました。
  Kana: よていがかわったので、でんしゃのじかんをしらべなおしました。
  Korean 「다시 확인하다」 and Japanese 「調べ直す」 can both be used when information has already been checked but changing circumstances make another check necessary. Here, the original information was not necessarily incorrect; the previous results simply no longer matched the current itinerary.

◆ Similar expression ②: 「너무／너무 많이」

Korean 「너무」 can indicate that something exceeds a normal degree, making it similar to Japanese 「〜すぎる」 in many respects. For example, 「高すぎる」 can correspond to 「너무 비싸다」, while 「静かすぎる」 can correspond to 「너무 조용하다」.

However, when Japanese 「〜すぎる」 is attached to a verb, Korean often needs to specify the quantity or duration according to the action. For example, 「食べすぎる」 is commonly expressed as 「너무 많이 먹다」. If 「見すぎる」 refers to spending too much time looking at a phone, 「너무 오래 보다」 can be used. Therefore, not every instance of Japanese 「〜すぎる」 can be translated directly as 「너무＋verb」.

• Example: 어제 케이크를 너무 많이 먹었어요.
  Romanization: eo-je ke-i-keu-reul neo-mu ma-ni meo-geo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I ate too much cake yesterday.
  Japanese: 昨日、ケーキを食べすぎました。
  Kana: きのう、ケーキをたべすぎました。
  Japanese 「食べすぎる」 directly expresses eating excessively through 「すぎる」. Korean uses 「너무 많이 먹다」, in which 「많이」 adds the meaning of a large quantity. Both sentences convey the feeling that the amount eaten exceeded an appropriate level.
• Example: 이 신발은 너무 비싸요.
  Romanization: i sin-ba-reun neo-mu bi-ssa-yo.
  Translation: These shoes are too expensive.
  Japanese: この靴は高すぎます。
  Kana: このくつはたかすぎます。
  Korean 「너무 비싸다」 and Japanese 「高すぎる」 can both indicate that a price exceeds an acceptable level. Japanese attaches 「すぎる」 after the adjective, while Korean uses the adverb 「너무」 to modify the adjective 「비싸다」.
• Example: 이 방은 너무 조용해요.
  Romanization: i bang-eun neo-mu jo-yong-hae-yo.
  Translation: This room is too quiet.
  Japanese: この部屋は静かすぎます。
  Kana: このへやはしずかすぎます。
  Korean 「너무 조용하다」 and Japanese 「静かすぎる」 can both indicate that the degree of quietness exceeds expectations. However, whether that quietness feels uncomfortable depends on the context. Both sentences could express a complaint about a room being too quiet or simply describe something that is quieter than expected.

◆ Key differences from Korean 「다시／너무」:

The main difference between Japanese 「〜直す」 and Korean 「다시」 is that the former usually carries the meaning of reworking, correcting, or checking something again, while the latter simply indicates repetition. In Korean, expressing the correction of a mistake explicitly often requires additional context, such as 「틀려서」 (because it was wrong) or 「잘못해서」 (because it was done incorrectly).

Both 「〜すぎる」 and 「너무」 can indicate that something exceeds a normal degree. However, in modern everyday Korean, 「너무」 is also frequently used simply to intensify positive evaluations. For example, 「너무 맛있어요」 can mean “It's very delicious,” without necessarily carrying a negative sense of being excessively delicious. Japanese 「おいしすぎる」 can also be used to strongly praise food, although it usually sounds more exaggerated than the ordinary 「おいしい」.

Therefore, when comparing Japanese and Korean expressions, you can begin by associating 「〜直す」 with 「다시」 and 「〜すぎる」 with 「너무」. Then consider whether the context involves correction and whether the sentence includes a judgment of excess to choose the most natural Korean expression.

Starting with the same verb, 「食べる」, attaching 「始める」「続ける」「終わる」 or 「すぎる」 allows you to express starting to eat, continuing to eat, finishing eating, or eating too much. When preparing for JLPT N4 compound verbs, you can begin by understanding these differences in actions and then checking whether the verbs follow the correct attachment patterns.

When you encounter expressions with similar meanings, such as 「〜始める」 and 「〜出す」, you also need to consider the surrounding context. 「降り始める」 tends to state that rain has begun, while 「降り出す」 often carries a sense of rain suddenly starting. However, the distinction cannot be made solely on whether the meaning of “suddenly” is present. Words such as 「急に」「ずっと」 and 「もう」 can also provide clues. Once you are familiar with how different aspects of actions are expressed, comparing the example sentences again will make it easier to distinguish when to use each ending.

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