What Does Suru Mean in Japanese? 60 Common する Verbs

Meta description: Learn what suru means in Japanese, how to conjugate する, how noun + suru verbs work, and 60 common suru verbs with natural examples.

How to write and pronounce suru

Hiragana: する
Romaji: suru
Basic meaning: to do

する is normally written in hiragana. The historical kanji 為る exists, but ordinary modern writing almost always uses する.

Suru conjugation: an irregular Japanese verb

今日は何をしますか。
Kyō wa nani o shimasu ka.
What will you do today?

宿題をしました。
Shukudai o shimashita.
I did my homework.

心配しないでください。
Shinpai shinaide kudasai.
Please do not worry.

Pattern 1: noun + suru creates an action verb

Many Japanese words of Chinese origin and many loanwords function as action nouns. Adding する turns the action into a verb.

Many of these can also appear with を:

日本語を勉強します。
Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.
I study Japanese.

日本語の勉強をします。
Nihongo no benkyō o shimasu.
I do Japanese study.

The first is usually more compact and natural. The second treats 勉強 more clearly as a noun phrase and may be useful when modifying it.

60 common suru verbs list

Natural examples with common suru verbs

毎日、日本語を勉強します。
Mainichi, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.
I study Japanese every day.

ホテルを予約しました。
Hoteru o yoyaku shimashita.
I booked a hotel.

あとで先生に質問します。
Ato de sensei ni shitsumon shimasu.
I will ask the teacher a question later.

週末に部屋を掃除します。
Shūmatsu ni heya o sōji shimasu.
I clean my room on the weekend.

駅に着いたら連絡してください。
Eki ni tsuitara renraku shite kudasai.
Please contact me when you arrive at the station.

来月、京都へ旅行する予定です。
Raigetsu, Kyōto e ryokō suru yotei desu.
I plan to travel to Kyoto next month.

会議に参加できません。
Kaigi ni sanka dekimasen.
I cannot participate in the meeting.

パスワードを変更しました。
Pasuwādo o henkō shimashita.
I changed the password.

Pattern 2: N にする means “choose N” or “decide on N”

Use にする when choosing one option from a menu, list, or set of possibilities.

私はラーメンにします。
Watashi wa rāmen ni shimasu.
I’ll have ramen.

会議は金曜日にしましょう。
Kaigi wa kin’yōbi ni shimashō.
Let’s make the meeting Friday.

Pattern 3: adjective + suru means “make…”

Na-adjective / noun + にする

部屋をきれいにします。
Heya o kirei ni shimasu.
I will make the room clean.

音を小さくしてください。
Oto o chiisaku shite kudasai.
Please make the sound quieter.

I-adjective + くする

髪を短くしました。
Kami o mijikaku shimashita.
I made my hair shorter / I had my hair cut short.

Compare なる, which means “become” without emphasizing an agent:

部屋がきれいになりました。
Heya ga kirei ni narimashita.
The room became clean.

Pattern 4: sound, smell, taste, and bodily sensation + がする

Japanese uses Nがする for a sensation perceived by the speaker.

外で変な音がします。
Soto de hen na oto ga shimasu.
I hear a strange sound outside.

このスープはカレーの味がします。
Kono sūpu wa karē no aji ga shimasu.
This soup tastes like curry.

今日は何かいいことがある感じがします。
Kyō wa nanika ii koto ga aru kanji ga shimasu.
I have a feeling something good will happen today.

Pattern 5: price + suru

する can describe how much something costs.

このかばんは一万円しました。
Kono kaban wa ichi-man-en shimashita.
This bag cost 10,000 yen.

To say how long something takes, use かかる: 駅まで二十分ぐらいかかります (It takes about twenty minutes to the station).

Pattern 6: clothing and appearance

する is used with some accessories and appearance-related nouns:

父はネクタイをしています。
Chichi wa nekutai o shite imasu.
My father is wearing a tie.

彼は悲しそうな顔をしていました。
Kare wa kanashisō na kao o shite imashita.
He had a sad expression.

Clothing verbs are item-specific: 着る for upper-body clothes, 履く for lower-body clothes and footwear, かぶる for headwear, and する for accessories such as ties, belts, watches, and rings in many contexts.

Suru vs yaru

やる can also mean “do,” but it is more conversational and has additional meanings such as “give to a socially lower recipient/animal,” “perform,” and “operate.”

宿題をする。
Shukudai o suru.
I do my homework. Neutral.

宿題をやる。
Shukudai o yaru.
I do my homework. More casual.

Can every noun become a suru verb?

No. A combination must be conventional in Japanese. For example, 勉強する is standard, but a random concrete noun cannot normally be turned into a verb merely by adding する. When unsure, check a dictionary entry or examples from reliable Japanese material.

Common mistakes

1. Conjugating the noun instead of suru

Only する changes: 勉強する → 勉強した → 勉強しない.

2. Adding を in the wrong place

日本語を勉強する is correct. 日本語を勉強をする normally has one を too many.

3. Confusing する and なる

する generally expresses an agent making or choosing a result. なる expresses becoming.

4. Using する where Japanese prefers a specific verb

“Take a photo” is 写真を撮る, not normally 写真をする. Learn common collocations as complete units.

FAQ

What does suru mean in Japanese?

Its core meaning is “to do.” It also creates verbs from many action nouns and appears in patterns for choosing, changing states, sensing, cost, and appearance.

Is suru an irregular verb?

Yes. Common forms include します, しない, した, して, しよう, and すれば.

What are suru verbs?

They are combinations such as 勉強する and 予約する, in which an action noun combines with する and follows the conjugation of する.

Can I omit o in benkyō o suru?

You can often use the compact compound 勉強する. If 勉強 is part of a fuller noun phrase, 勉強をする may be natural.

What is the potential form of suru?

The standard potential equivalent is できる, meaning “can do” or “be able to.”

Summary

Related guides

100 Most Common Japanese Verbs
What Does Dekiru Mean?
Iku vs Kuru

References

Japan Foundation, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan (Irodori Grammar Notes), beginner and elementary grammar/vocabulary materials. Example sentences and category organization in this article are original.