Japanese

ます

すます
Meaning: to clear, to purify, to strain (one's ears), to pretend
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 澄ます 澄まさない
Polite 澄まします 澄ましません
Past 澄ました 澄まさなかった
Polite + Past 澄ましました 澄ましませんでした
Te-form 澄まして 澄まさなくて
Potential 澄ませる 澄ませない
Passive 澄まされる 澄まされない
Causative 澄まさせる 澄まさせない
Imperative 澄ませ 澄ますな

Handwriting

澄
ま
す

Example

In the forest, he strained his ears and listened to the birds' voices.

Usage Notes

Often used in the phrase 「耳を澄ます」 (mimi o sumasu), meaning to listen carefully or strain one's ears.

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