JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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· Elementary
to suddenly begin
Category: Compound Verbs
The grammar pattern "V-ます + 出す" is used to indicate a sudden, unexpected, or impulsive start of an action. It is often used to describe external or involuntary events that occur suddenly. For example, "赤ちゃんが急に泣き出した" means "The baby suddenly started crying." Unlike the pattern "～始める," which is used to describe a planned start of an action, "V-ます + 出す" emphasizes the suddenness of the event. It is also different from the literal meaning of 'to take out' (dasu), which implies a more deliberate action.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masu-stem of a verb | V-ます + 出す | 走る (hashiru) -> 走り出す (hashiridasu) |
| Masu-stem of a verb | V-ます + 出す | 見る (miru) -> 見出す (mihadasu) |
| Masu-stem of a verb | V-ます + 出す | 聞く (kiku) -> 聞き出す (kikidasu) |
赤ちゃんが急に泣き出した。
Akachan ga kyūni na ki datta.
The baby suddenly started crying.
赤ちゃん (baby), 急に (suddenly), 泣き出した (started crying)
空が暗くなって、雨が降り出した。
Sora ga kuraku natte, ame ga furidashita.
The sky darkened and it started raining.
空が暗くなって (the sky darkened), 雨が降り出した (it started raining)
彼は私の顔を見て、突然笑い出した。
Kare wa watashi no kao o mite, tozen warai datta.
He suddenly laughed when he saw my face.
彼は (he), 私の顔を見て (saw my face), 突然 (suddenly), 笑い出した (started laughing)
車が急に止まった。
Kuruma ga kyūni tomatta.
The car suddenly stopped.
車が (the car), 急に (suddenly), 止まった (stopped)
彼女は突然泣き出した。
Kanojo wa tozen na ki datta.
She suddenly started crying.
彼女は (she), 突然 (suddenly), 泣き出した (started crying)
This pattern is used to describe sudden, unexpected, or impulsive events. It is often used to emphasize the suddenness of the event. In terms of register, this pattern is used in both formal and informal contexts. It is different from the pattern "～始める," which is used to describe a planned start of an action.
This pattern emphasizes the suddenness of the event, so it should not be used for planned starts. For example, "明日始める" (will start tomorrow) is a better choice than "明日出す" (will start suddenly tomorrow).
This pattern is used to describe sudden, unexpected, or impulsive events. If the verb does not imply a burst of action, a different pattern should be used. For example, "食べる" (to eat) does not imply a burst of action, so "食べ出す" (to suddenly eat) is not a good choice.
This pattern is often confused with the literal meaning of 'to take out' (dasu). However, the nuance of this pattern is to describe sudden, unexpected, or impulsive events, not to take something out. For example, "本を出す" (to take out a book) is a different pattern from "本が出た" (the book suddenly appeared).
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to emphasize the suddenness of the event. Use it to describe unexpected or impulsive events, and avoid using it for planned starts or with verbs that don't imply a burst of action.
赤ちゃんが急に______。
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