Meaning

Primary

To Extinguish Something

Alternatives

To Erase Something, To Turn Something Off

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means extinguish so the verb vocab version is to extinguish something. You can also use this word to say to erase something, like data, and to turn something off, like the lights or the power. Technically you're extinguishing the data, as well as the lights or power, right?

Reading

けす
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You have to extinguish the fire! The kettle () got too hot, and it caught on fire.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 火を消す

    to extinguish a fire

    電気を消す

    to turn off the light

    すがたを消す

    to disappear, to go into hiding

Context Sentences

このイラストを消す予定です。

I'm planning to remove this illustration.

間違えてデータを全部消しちゃったんだよ。

I erased all the data by mistake.

教室を出た後は電気を消すのを忘れないで下さい。

After you leave the classroom, please don’t forget to turn off the light.

Kanji Composition