足す To Add Something

Meaning

Primary

To Add Something

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Remember 足りる? That is "to be enough." How can you make something be enough? You keep adding things to the pile until you reach that point where there are enough! That's why this verb is to add something, because you keep adding things until you 足りる.

This verb is transitive, like most verbs ending in す, which is why you are adding something. It's not getting itself added all by itself. Maybe you add so much that someone tries to sue (す) you for that nasty pile of squirrels you keep outside.

Reading

たす

Explanation

The reading is the same as 足りる, so if you know that you can add things up to this.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜を足す

  水を足す

  to add water

  用を足す

  to go to the bathroom, to take care of business

  四十二を足す

  to add forty two

• 〜に足す

  ゼロに足す

  to add to zero

  ２００万円に足す

  to add to two million yen

  これに足す

  to add to this

Context Sentences

一に一を足すと、二になります。

If you add 1 to 1, that'll be 2.

このスープ、もう少し水を足した方がいいんじゃないかな。

Maybe it would be better to add more water to this soup.

白のペンキを足しましょう。

Let's add some white paint.

Kanji Composition

1. 足

   そく Foot