Learn Japanese with N1/N2 Grammar: '経つ', '運ぶ', and '劣る' Explained with Examples

'経つ' (tsutsu) means 'to pass' or 'to elapse'. This verb describes the passage of time or the duration of an event. For example, '時間が経つ' (jikan ga tsutsu) means 'time passes'.

Here are two long sentences using '経つ':

1. '夏休みが始まってから既に1週間が経つ。もうすぐ学校が始まるので、やり残した宿題を終わらせなければならない。'(Natsuyasumi ga hajimatte kara sude ni isshuu kan tsutsu. Mou sugu gakkou ga hajimaru node, yarinokoshita shukudai wo owarasenakereba naranai.) - 'It has already been a week since summer vacation started. School is starting soon, so I have to finish the homework I left undone.'

2. '彼女と別れてから1年が経つ。今でも彼女のことを思い出すと胸が痛む。しかし、時間が経てば経つほど、彼女の存在が遠くなっていくような気がする。'(Kanojo to wakarete kara ichinen ga tsutsu. Ima demo kanojo no koto wo omoidasu to mune ga itamu. Shikashi, jikan ga tateba tatsu hodo, kanojo no sonzai ga tooku natteiku you na ki ga suru.) - 'It has been a year since I broke up with her. Even now, my heart aches when I think of her. However, the more time passes, the more her presence seems to fade away.'

Synonyms for '経つ' include '過ぎる' (sugiru) and '流れる' (nagareru), while antonyms include '止まる' (tomaru) and '始まる' (hajimaru).

'運ぶ' (hakobu) means 'to carry' or 'to transport'. It describes moving objects or people from one place to another. For example, '荷物を運ぶ' (nimotsu wo hakobu) means 'to carry luggage'.

Here are two long sentences using '運ぶ':

1. '大雨の中、救急車が急いで病院に怪我人を運んだ。運転手の腕前が良かったため、無事に病院に到着することができた。'(Ooame no naka, kyuukyuusha ga isoide byouin ni kegajin wo hakonda. Untenshu no wanzen ga yokatta tame, buji ni byouin ni touchaku suru koto ga dekita.) - 'In the heavy rain, an ambulance hurriedly transported an injured person to the hospital. Thanks to the driver's skill, they were able to arrive at the hospital safely.'

2. '昔、人力車が主要な交通手段だった時代があった。今では、自動車が主流となり、人力車は観光客を運ぶための乗り物として残されている。'(Mukashi, jinrikisha ga shuyou na koutsu shudan datta jidai ga atta. Ima de wa, jidousha ga shuryuu to nari, jinrikisha wa kankoukyaku wo hakobu tame no norimono to shite nokosareteiru.) - 'There was a time when rickshaws were the main mode of transportation. Nowadays, automobiles have become the mainstream, and rickshaws are left as a means of transportation for tourists.'

Synonyms for '運ぶ' include '輸送する' (yusousuru) and '移動する' (idousuru), while antonyms include '置く' (oku) and '静止する' (seishisuru).

'劣る' (otoru) means 'to be inferior' or 'to be worse'. It is used to compare two things where one is of lower quality or standard. For example, '彼女は私より美人だから、私は彼女に劣る' (Kanojo wa watashi yori bijin dakara, watashi wa kanojo ni otoru) means 'She is more beautiful than me, so I am inferior to her'.

Here are two long sentences using '劣る':

1. '日本の高校生の数学のレベルは世界的に見ても高いが、アジアの一部の国々には劣る。政府は教育改革を進めて、日本の数学教育を改善しようとしている。'(Nihon no koukousei no suugaku no reberu wa sekaiteki ni mitemo takai ga, ajia no ichibu no kokugai ni wa otoru. Seifu wa kyouiku kaikaku wo susumete, Nihon no suugaku kyouiku wo kaizen shiyou to shiteiru.) - 'The level of math among Japanese high school students is high even on a global scale, but it is inferior to some Asian countries. The government is promoting educational reform to improve math education in Japan.'

2. 'このレストランの味は普通だが、値段は高い。他のレストランと比べると、味が劣ると言えるかもしれない。しかし、雰囲気やサービスは良いので、多くの人が訪れる。'(Kono resutoran no aji wa futsuu daga, nedan wa takai. Hoka no resutoran to kuraberu to, aji ga otoru to ieru kamoshirenai. Shikashi, fun'iki ya saabisu wa ii no de, ooku no hito ga otozureru.) - 'The taste of this restaurant is ordinary, but the price is high. Compared to other restaurants, the taste may be inferior. However, the atmosphere and service are good, so many people visit.'

Synonyms for '劣る' include '劣等する' (rakutousuru) and '劣悪' (retsuaku), while antonyms include '優れる' (sugureru) and '優良' (yuryou).

Here are two more short sentences using the new words:

1. '夏休みが終わってからもう1ヶ月が経つ。学校が始まってからは毎日忙しく、あっという間に時間が過ぎてしまう。'(Natsuyasumi ga owatte kara mou ikkagetsu ga tsutsu. Gakkou ga hajimatte kara wa mainichi isogashiku, attoiuma ni jikan ga sugite shimau.) - 'It has been a month since summer vacation ended. Since school started, I have been busy every day, and time has passed by in the blink of an eye.'

2. '彼女と比べると、私は運動能力が劣る。しかし、彼女は私よりも勉強が苦手で、そこで私が彼女を助けることができる。'(Kanojo to kuraberu to, watashi wa undou nouryoku ga otoru. Shikashi, kanojo wa watashi yori mo benkyou ga nigate de, soko de watashi ga kanojo wo tasukeru koto ga dekiru.) - 'Compared to my girlfriend, I am inferior in terms of athletic ability. However, she is weaker in studying than me, so I can help her in that area.'