Japanese grammar
What does ～なおす mean? Japanese grammar N4
～なおす means to redo ~ (correctly, better).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V masu stem + なおします |
| Romaji | ~ naosu |
| Meaning | to redo ~ (correctly, better) |
Forming it
| Kanji | Can be written as either 書き直す or 書きなおす |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 直す standing alone = fixing a broken object (時計を直す) |
| How to form | Drop ます and add なおす: 書きます → 書きなおす、読みます → 読みなおす |
| Further conjugation | なおす is a GROUP 1 verb: なおします、なおした、なおして |
How to use it
Redoing something because it wasn't good enough or was wrong the first time.
- なおす (from 直す — to fix) attached to the masu stem means "do it over again because it wasn't right the first time." The core point: it ALWAYS implies there was a problem the first time — wrong, not good enough, not understood.
- So it must be distinguished from 「もう一度」(one more time). 「もう一度読みました」= read it again (perhaps just because they liked it). Meanwhile 「読みなおしました」= re-read it because it wasn't understood/was missed the first time. Vietnamese learners often use the same phrase, "read again," for both.
- Also don't confuse it with 直す standing alone, meaning to fix a broken object: 「時計を直しました」= I fixed the clock. Whereas 「時計を直しなおしました」= fixed the clock again (because the previous repair broke again too). The two are different.
- Commonly combined verbs: 書きなおす (rewrite), 読みなおす (re-read), 考えなおす (reconsider), 作りなおす (remake), やりなおす (redo from scratch). Among these, 「考えなおす」is very commonly used when advising someone to reconsider a decision.
- Don't combine なおす with a stative verb or something that cannot be repeated: you don't say 「知りなおす」or 「死になおす」.
Examples
間違えたので、作文を書きなおしました。
I made a mistake, so I rewrote my composition.
よく分からなかったから、この本を読みなおします。
I did not understand it well, so I will read this book again.
もう一度考えなおしてください。
Please reconsider it once more.
Keep in mind
- なおす is a group 1 verb (ends in す) → its て form is なおして.
- 「やりなおす」 is used a lot to say "start over from scratch".
Common mistakes
-
Wrongこの映画が好きなので、見なおしました。
Since I like this movie, I watched it again.
Correctこの映画が好きなので、もう一度見ました。
～なおす implies there WAS A PROBLEM the first time. Watching again because you like it uses もう一度. Vietnamese learners often use なおす for every instance of "again" because Vietnamese doesn't distinguish these two nuances.
-
Wrong作文を書くなおしました。
I rewrote my composition.
Correct作文を書きなおしました。
Attach to the MASU STEM (書き), not the dictionary form. The whole group of N4 combining patterns (やすい/にくい/すぎる/はじめる/つづける/なおす/ながら) follows this rule.
Exam tips
- Remember the implication "it wasn't right the first time" — exams often give context with 間違える／分からない then ask you to choose なおす.
- Summary for the whole group: every N4 combining pattern attaches to the masu stem — knowing this rule solves many questions.