Meaning

Primary

To Become

Word Type

intransitive 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 become so the vocab verb version would be to become.

While the kanji version is worth knowing, be aware that you'll usually see this verb written in hiragana.

Reading

なる
  • 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 are starting to become something else. You're transforming, but you're not sure what it is. First, you get fins... uh oh, something in the water. Then, you gain a tail and rubbery skin... hmm, something sea mammal-like. Oh, and then a huge horn flies out of your nose. You are going to become a narwhal ().

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 必要に成る

    to become necessary

    六十才に成る

    to turn sixty years old

    お世話に成る

    to be much obliged to someone, to be indebted to someone

Context Sentences

取りこし苦労だよ。成るように成るさ。

You're worrying for nothing. What will be, will be.

日食を直に見てしまったため、目が不自由に成りました。

I'm visually impaired because I looked directly at an eclipse.

うわーー!!コウイチがとうとうアメリカ大統領に成ったよ。「為せば成る。為さねばならぬ何事も、成らぬは人の為さぬなりけり」だね!

Oh my God! Koichi finally became the President of the United States! Where there's a will, there's a way!

Kanji Composition