案内します（あんないします、annaishimasu）
- to guide

The Japanese word 案内します means "to guide," "to show around," "to provide information," or "to direct." It's a polite and versatile verb used to offer assistance, provide directions, or explain something to someone. It implies a degree of helpfulness and courtesy. The core meaning revolves around leading or informing someone about something. ⚫︎ The word suggests taking the initiative to help someone navigate a place, a situation, or a topic. ⚫︎ It can also be used in contexts like providing information about a product, service, or event. ⚫︎ The verb is often used to assist someone who is unfamiliar with a place or a process.

⚫︎会場まで案内します。 Translation: I will guide you to the venue. ⚫︎この書類について案内します。 Translation: I will explain this document to you. ⚫︎観光案内をします。 Translation: I offer sightseeing guidance.

⚫︎ Use 案内します when you want to offer help, guidance, or information to someone. ⚫︎ It's a polite form, suitable for formal and informal situations. ⚫︎ The subject of the sentence (the one doing the guiding or explaining) is usually "I" or "we," but it can also be a company, a guide, etc. ⚫︎ This word is frequently used in customer service scenarios, tourism, and professional settings. ⚫︎ When speaking, you often say the action you want to do first, such as 場所を ("the place"), and then follow that with 案内します, such as 場所を案内します("I'll guide you to the place") ⚫︎ To make it more polite, use the ます form. 案内します is the polite present/future tense form. The plain form is 案内する.

⚫︎ Typically written as 案内します. ⚫︎ The verb stem is 案内 (あんない), and the polite suffix します is added to indicate politeness and present/future tense. ⚫︎ 案内 is written in kanji, and します is written in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 道案内する (みちあんないする) - to guide (someone) on the way. (More focused on physical directions.) ⚫︎ ガイドする - to guide (loanword from English) ⚫︎ 説明する (せつめいする) - to explain (Focuses on providing information.) ⚫︎ 教える (おしえる) - to teach, to inform.

⚫︎ The direct antonym would depend on the context, but there isn't one single perfect antonym. Words suggesting leaving someone to themselves, such as 放っておく (ほうっておく) ("to leave alone") could be a contrast, or simply withholding information, but no single word has the direct meaning of the antonym.

駅まで案内します。 ・Translation: I will guide you to the station. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses the intention to lead someone to the station. It implies providing directions or physically accompanying the person.

この製品の使い方を案内します。 ・Translation: I will explain how to use this product. ・Explanation: This sentence offers information about the product and how to use it. It means that the person is going to provide detailed instructions.

The word 案内 is a combination of two kanji: 案 (あん) meaning "plan," "proposal," or "idea," and 内 (ない) which means "inside," "within," or "in." The verb します is the polite form of the verb "to do." Therefore, the combination of kanji implies "to provide a plan/idea inside," or more generally, to guide or lead someone. The combination can also be considered to mean "to show the interior/details."