()せる

きせる
verb (ichidan)
to dress (someone), to put clothes on
他動詞 transitiveactionclothing
See also: () (to wear (self))
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present()せる()せない
Present polite()せます()せません
Past()せた()せなかった
Past polite()せました()せませんでした
て form()せて()せなくて
ている present()せている()せていない
ている polite()せています()せていません
ている past()せていた()せていなかった
ている past polite()せていました()せていませんでした
Conditional ば()せれば()せなければ
Conditional たら()せたら()せなかったら
Volitional()せよう
Volitional polite()せましょう
Potential()せられる()せられない
Passive()せられる()せられない
Causative()せさせる()せさせない
Imperative()せろ()せるな
1. to dress someone, to put clothes on someone
To put clothing on another person. The transitive counterpart of ()る (to wear). The person being dressed takes the に particle, and the clothing takes the を particle.
()ども(ふく)()せる。
To dress the child.
I put a warm coat on the baby.
I dressed the doll in a cute outfit and displayed it.
2. to place blame on, to lay (responsibility) on
Figuratively, to impose blame, responsibility, or a false charge on someone. Often used in the phrase (つみ)()せる.
(つみ)()せる。
To pin the blame on someone.
You must not pin a crime on an innocent person.
A boss who blames subordinates for their own failures won't be trusted.

Usage

The transitive counterpart of () (to wear). In sense 1, the pattern is [person][clothing]()せる. In sense 2, the pattern is [person][blame/crime]()せる. The phrase ()(ぎぬ)()せる (to frame someone; literally "to put wet clothes on someone") is a well-known idiom.

Common collocations

  • ()ども(ふく)()せる: to dress a child
  • (つみ)()せる: to pin blame on someone
  • ()(ぎぬ)()せる: to frame someone (idiom)