auxiliary N3 common casualpolitewritten
〜直す — to re-do
〜直す ・ なおす
Builds on 連用形（ます形）
Meaning
- do ~ again / re-~ — repeat the action to correct or improve on a first, unsatisfactory attempt
Key sentence
間違えたので手紙を書き直した。
I made a mistake, so I rewrote the letter.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (masu-stem) | V(stem) + 直す | やる → やり直す / 考える → 考え直す / 読む → 読み直す |
Examples
計画を一から考え直そう。
Let's rethink the plan from scratch.
答えに自信がなくて、もう一度見直した。
I wasn't sure of my answer, so I checked it over again.
発音が悪かったので、言い直した。
My pronunciation was off, so I said it again.
When you can't use it
- 〜直す means redoing to fix or improve, so the first attempt is treated as flawed or incomplete. It isn't plain repetition for enjoyment — 'I read the book again because I liked it' is もう一度読んだ, not 読み直した unless you reread to re-check it.
Notes
- Distinct from the standalone verb 直す ('to fix / repair'). As a suffix it always means 'do the action over.' For neutral repetition with no corrective sense, use もう一度 + verb.
See 〜直す in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜直す the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.