ほのめかす
ほのめかす
honomekasu
to hint at; to intimate; to suggest; to allude to; to imply
Forms of ほのめかす
The verb keeps the same form for “I”, “you”, and other subjects. Choose an ending for the time, negative meaning, and style you need.
| Form | Japanese and reading | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary · plain nonpastHabits, facts, or future actions depend on context. | ほのめかす | |
| Polite nonpastA polite statement; it can refer to the future. | ほのめかします | |
| Polite negativeA polite negative in a nonpast context. | ほのめかしません | |
| Polite pastA polite statement about the past. | ほのめかしました | |
| Polite past negativeA polite negative about the past. | ほのめかしませんでした | |
| Plain negativeThe ない-form. | ほのめかさない | |
| Plain pastThe た-form; its ending can also be だ. | ほのめかした | |
| Plain past negativeThe negative counterpart of the plain past. | ほのめかさなかった | |
| Te-formConnects to constructions such as 〜てください and 〜ている; it is not a tense by itself. | ほのめかして |
Potential forms are shown only for selected action meanings in this edition. Their use depends on what the verb means in context.
In context
Explore the Japanese words
Dictionary hints for recognized words. They may show other meanings; use the full English sentence for the meaning here.
- こうえんしゃkouenshalecturer; speakerA dictionary meaning; this sentence may use another sense.
- わwatopic markerIntroduces or contrasts a topic. Written は, pronounced wa as a particle; it often has no separate English word.
- のnonoun linker / nominalizerOften connects nouns, as in possession; it can also turn a clause into a noun-like expression.
- かkaquestion / alternative markerCan mark a question or an alternative (“or”), depending on context.
- したshitato doPlain past of する (する). The た-form; its ending can also be だ.
Some words or endings may not have a hint. Dictionary sources.
Practise a form
Choose a form of ほのめかす, then type it in Japanese. Its written form or hiragana reading is accepted.
Time, aspect, and style
The table above gives forms of ほのめかす. These comparison examples use familiar verbs to explain how the forms work in a sentence.
Nonpast: habits and future
食べます / 食べる
The nonpast form can describe a routine or a future action. Time words and context make the intended time clear.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- まいあさ、maiasaevery morning
- パンpanbread
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- たべます。tabemasueat (polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- ともだちtomodachia friend
- とtocompanion marker
- ひるごはんhirugohanlunch
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- たべます。tabemasuwill eat / have (a meal)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
Past and negative
食べました / 食べませんでした
Japanese changes the verb ending to express past and negative meanings. In plain style these forms are 食べた and 食べなかった.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きのう、kinouyesterday
- すしsushisushi
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- たべました。tabemashitaate (polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- きのう、kinouyesterday
- あさごはんasagohanbreakfast
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- たべませんでした。tabemasendeshitadid not eat (polite past negative)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
The te-form connects
食べて + ください / います
The te-form is not a tense on its own. It joins other expressions: 〜てください makes a request, while 〜ている has several aspectual uses.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- どうぞdouzogo ahead
- たべてtabeteeat (te-form)
- ください。kudasaiplease (request)
Japanese places the request after the action: 食べて + ください. English uses “please” before it.
Activity in progress
食べています
With an activity such as eating, 〜ている can describe an action in progress. The polite form is 〜ています.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- いま、imanow
- ひるごはんhirugohanlunch
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- たべています。tabeteimasuam eating (polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
An ongoing state
住んでいます / 知っています
The same 〜ている construction can describe a state. It does not always translate as “is doing”. Learn the whole expression with its meaning.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- とうきょうtoukyouTokyo
- にnilocation marker
- すんでいます。sundeimasulive (ongoing state, polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- そのsonothat
- みせmiseshop
- をoobject markerPronounced o. Marks the object the verb applies to; it has no separate English word here.
- しっています。shitteimasuknow (a state, polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
Plain and polite
行く ↔ 行きます
Plain and polite forms express different styles, not different people. Use polite forms with new acquaintances. Plain forms also appear inside many grammatical constructions.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- きょうとkyoutoKyoto
- にnidestination marker
- いきます。ikimasuwill go (polite)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あした、ashitatomorrow
- きょうとkyoutoKyoto
- にnidestination marker
- いく。ikuwill go (plain)
“I” is understood from context. There is no written word for “I” in this Japanese sentence.
Grammar references and example notes
These comparison sentences are original teaching examples. They show common uses and do not cover every meaning of a verb.
Word meaning, reading, and class are adapted from JMdict entry 1563040-1, by the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Original examples use the same license. Conjugations are generated from explicit dictionary classes and checked exception rules. Sources and editorial scope.