発明します（はつめいします、hatsumeishimasu）
- to invent

The Japanese word 発明します (読み方: はつめいします, *hatsumei shimasu*) means "to invent" or "to discover something new." It implies the creation of something that didn't exist before, a novel concept, or a new process, often with practical applications. It differs from simply "creating" something, as it suggests a degree of ingenuity and originality. This is a *masu-form* verb, the polite form of the verb, used in formal and polite conversation. The base form is 発明する (*hatsumei suru*).

⚫︎ 新しい薬を発明します Translation: I will invent a new medicine. ⚫︎ エジソンは電球を発明しました Translation: Edison invented the light bulb. ⚫︎ 彼女は画期的な方法を発明するだろう Translation: She will probably invent a groundbreaking method.

⚫︎ Use 発明します when talking about the act of creating or developing something entirely new, such as a new product, a new technology, or a novel method. ⚫︎ It is typically used in more formal settings, such as in academic contexts, business discussions, or when speaking with someone you respect. The polite form of the verb (*masu* form). ⚫︎ When speaking informally, you might use the plain form of the verb, 発明する (*hatsumei suru*). ⚫︎ You can use 発明します with various adverbs to show the degree of effort, time, and scale of what's being "invented."

⚫︎ 発明します is typically written in kanji, with the hiragana verb ending. ⚫︎ 発明 (kanji: 発明, reading: *hatsumei*) means invention. ⚫︎ The verb ending *suru* is changed into the polite form *shimasu*. The kanji 発 means "to start", 明 means "clear", and the whole word conveys the sense of something being made clear or revealed for the first time. ⚫︎ Other verb conjugations include: - 発明する (*hatsumei suru*) - to invent (dictionary form) - 発明しない (*hatsumei shinai*) - to not invent (negative, plain form) - 発明しました (*hatsumei shimashita*) - invented (past, polite form) - 発明したい (*hatsumei shitai*) - want to invent

⚫︎ 開発する (*kaihatsu suru*) - to develop (often related to existing concepts) ⚫︎ 創出する (*soushutsu suru*) - to create (similar, but emphasizes bringing something into existence)

⚫︎ There is no single direct antonym. You can consider words like: ⚫︎ 破壊する (*hakai suru*) - to destroy ⚫︎ 廃止する (*haishi suru*) - to abolish

彼は新しいスマートフォンを発明しますために、毎日研究室で働いています。 ・Translation: He works in the lab every day to invent a new smartphone. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 発明します in the context of technological innovation. It also shows a common context for this verb.

その科学者は、治療法を発明することを目指しています。 ・Translation: That scientist aims to invent a cure. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the use of the plain form 発明する in a context of scientific research.

The word 発明 is a compound word derived from two kanji. 発 means "to start" or "to reveal", and 明 means "clear" or "bright." Combining these characters suggests the act of making something new or unknown "clear" or apparent to the world. It arrived in Japan alongside many other scientific concepts that accompanied Westernization.