A LIST OF COMPOUND VERBS

Compound verbs are formed by adding a verb to the pre-masu form of another verb. Thus, the original meaning of the verb (in pre-masu form) is modified by the attached verb. Following are twenty common examples of such verbs:

ayumi-yoru 歩み寄る to walk up to: (intrans.)
      Kanojo wa sono kuruma ni ayumi-yotta.
      She walked up to the car.

fumi-taosu 踏み倒すto avoid paying: (trans.)
     Shakuya-nin wa yachin o fumi-taoshite nigeta.
     The tenant vanished without paying his rent.

furi-wakeru 振り分ける to divide: (trans.)
     Kare wa zaisan o san-nin no kodomo ni furi-waketa.
     He divided his property among his three children.

hiki-tsukeru 引き付ける to fascinate, attract:(trans.)
     Kare wa kanojo no miryoku ni hiki-tsukerareta.
     He was attracted by her charm.

ii-tateru 言い立てる to state, maintain: (trans.)
     Shachoo ni iken o ii-tateta.
     We stated our opinions to the president.

iki-wataru 行き渡る to spread, go around: (intrans.)
     Wain ga minna ni iki-watarimashita ka.
     Has everyone been served with wine?

ire-komu いれ込む to be crazy about: (intrans.)
     Kare wa keiba ni ire-konde iru.
     He is crazy about horse racing.

kangae-tsuku 考え付く think of: (intrans.)
     Ii keikaku o kangae-tsuita.
     I hit upon a good plan.

kiki-toru 聞き取る to hear, be audible: (trans.)
     Kanojo ga itte iru koto ga kiki-torenai.
     I can’t catch what she is saying.

mi-suteru 見捨てる to abandon: (trans.)
     Watashi o mi-sutenaide kudasai.
     Please don’t abandon me.

mi-wakeru 見分ける to distinguish: (trans.)
     Ano futago o mi-wakeraremasu ka.
     Can you tell those twins apart?

mi-yaburu 見破る to see through: (trans.)
     Watashi wa kanojo no furi ni damasarenaide, honshin o mi-yabure-mashita.
     Not being fooled by her act, I was able to see what her real intentions were.

ochi-tsuku 落ち着く to calm down, become quiet: (intrans.)
     Kimochi ga ochi-tsukanai.
     I can’t calm down.
     Yatto kaze ga ochi-tsuita.
     The wind finally died down.

shire-wataru 知れ渡る to become widely known: (intrans.)
     Sono jiken wa sugu shire-watatta.
     News of that incident quickly spread.

sumi-tsuku 住み着く settle down: (intrans.)
     Nihon ni sumi-tsuita.
     I settled down in Japan.

tachi-yoru 立ち寄る to drop in: (intrans.)
     Hon’ya ni tachi-yotta.
     I dropped into a bookstore.

yomi-toru 読み取る to understand the meaning, read between the lines:(trans.)
     Kono bunmyaku wa yomi-tori-nikui.
     It is difficult to grasp the meaning of this passage.

tori-tateru 取り立てる to collect, levy taxes: (trans.)
     Kare wa zeikin o tori-talerareta.
     He was made to pay his taxes.

tori-tsuku 取り付く possess, be taken ill: (intrans.)
     Kare wa byooki ni tori-isukarete iru.
     He has fallen ill.

yomi-ageru 読み上げる to read aloud: (trans.)
     Koe o dashite, hon o yomi-agete kudasai.
     Please read the book aloud.