()くす

つくす
verb (godan)
to exhaust, to devote oneself
1. to exhaust, to use up
To use completely.
(ちから)()くす。
To do one's best.
全力(ぜんりょく)()くす。
To give one's all.
()()くしたが()つからなかった。
I tried every means but couldn't find it.
2. to devote oneself, to serve
To give one's all to someone or something.
家族(かぞく)のために()くす。
To devote oneself to one's family.
社会(しゃかい)のために()くす。
To devote oneself to society.
彼女(かのじょ)患者(かんじゃ)のために()くした。
She devoted herself to the patients.

()くす means to exhaust completely or to devote oneself wholeheartedly.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)
  • Pair: ()きる (intransitive, to be exhausted)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • (ちから)()くす: to exert all one's effort
  • ()()くす: to try every means
  • 全力(ぜんりょく)()くす: to give one's all
  • (ひと)()くす: to devote oneself to someone

AUXILIARY USE:

Verb stem + ()くす means "to do completely":

  • ()()くす: to say everything
  • 使(つか)()くす: to use up completely

RELATED:

  • ()きる: to run out, be exhausted