GRAMMAR DETAIL
～直す
Attaches to a verb stem to indicate repeating an action from the beginning or correcting a mistake by doing it again.
Examples
録音に雑音が入ったので、最初から話し直しました。
There was noise in the recording, so I started over and spoke again from the beginning.
Words used
名前を間違えたので、申込書を書き直しました。
I got my name wrong, so I filled out the application form again.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: A verb's
ますstem takes直す, readなおす. - Basic usage:
申込書を書き直しましたmeans rewriting the application form.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- What is done again
読み直すmeans reading again, not changing the text itself.書き直すcan involve correcting or rewriting the text, so the first verb determines the action.
- Starting over versus a partial correction
最初から話し直すexplicitly means speaking again from the beginning. The addition of直すalone does not always mean redoing the entire task from the start.