1.
to hold up, to put up
To hold something up or over oneself, most commonly an umbrella.
傘を差す。
I put up an umbrella.
雨が降ってきたので傘を差した。
It started raining, so I put up my umbrella.
日傘を差して歩いている人が多い。
Many people are walking with parasols.
2.
to shine in, to come through
For light or color to come through or appear. Used when sunlight streams in or when a flush of color appears on someone's face.
日が差す。
Sunlight shines in.
窓から光が差してきた。
Light came streaming in through the window.
夕日が差して部屋がオレンジ色に染まった。
The evening sun shone in and the room was dyed orange.
3.
to pour, to offer a drink
To pour a drink for someone, especially sake. Part of the traditional custom of pouring for others at meals.
杯を差す。
I pour a cup of sake.
上司にお酒を差した。
I poured sake for my boss.
宴会では隣の人にお酒を差すのがマナーだ。
At banquets, it's good manners to pour sake for the person next to you.
CONJUGATION (godan -su):
- Negative: 差さない
- Te-form: 差して
- Past: 差した
TRANSITIVITY:
Transitive for senses 1 and 3 (takes を). Intransitive for sense 2 (light/color as subject with が).
ASPECT:
差している indicates an ongoing state — an umbrella being held up, or light continuing to shine in.
HOMOPHONES:
差す is distinct from other さす verbs:
- 刺す: to stab, pierce
- 指す: to point at, indicate
- 射す: to shine (often interchangeable with 差す for light)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 傘を差す: put up an umbrella
- 日が差す: sunlight shines in
- 杯を差す: pour a cup of sake
- 赤みが差す: a reddish tinge appears (on face)