()ばす

とばす
godan verb
to fly (something), to skip
1. to fly, to send flying
To cause something to move through the air.
(かみ)ヒコーキを()ばす。
To fly a paper airplane.
(かぜ)帽子(ぼうし)()ばされた。
My hat was blown away by the wind.
子供(こども)たちが公園(こうえん)でシャボン(だま)()ばして(あそ)んでいる。
The children are blowing soap bubbles in the park.
2. to skip, to omit
To pass over without reading or doing.
(むずか)しい問題(もんだい)()ばす。
To skip a difficult question.
興味(きょうみ)のない記事(きじ)()ばして()んだ。
I skipped the articles I wasn't interested in.
時間(じかん)がないので、この(しょう)()ばして(つぎ)(すす)もう。
We don't have time, so let's skip this chapter and move on.
3. to drive fast, to speed
To move at high speed.
(くるま)()ばして()た。
I drove fast to get here.
タクシーを()ばして空港(くうこう)()かった。
I sped to the airport by taxi.
約束(やくそく)時間(じかん)(おく)れそうだったので、(くるま)()ばして(なん)とか()()った。
I was about to be late for my appointment, so I drove fast and just barely made it.

()ばす has three main meanings: causing something to fly, skipping over something, or moving at high speed.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)
  • Pair: ()ぶ (intransitive, to fly)

ASPECT (ている):
()ばしている indicates an ongoing action: currently flying something, currently skipping, or currently speeding.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • (かみ)ヒコーキを()ばす: to fly a paper airplane
  • ページを()ばす: to skip pages
  • (うわさ)()ばす: to spread rumors
  • (くるま)()ばす: to drive fast
  • 冗談(じょうだん)()ばす: to crack jokes

NOTE:
The "skip" meaning is very common in academic and work contexts: (むずか)しい問題(もんだい)()ばす (skip difficult questions).