〜直す (naosu) - Redo
〜直す attaches to verb stems to indicate redoing an action or doing something over again, usually to correct or improve it. It implies the first attempt wasn't satisfactory.
Verb stem + 直す
書き直す - rewrite
作り直す - remake
考え直す - reconsider
Do over again
Correct/improve
Second attempt
Formation
Basic pattern
る-verbs:
食べる → 食べ直す "eat again"
見る → 見直す "look again, review"
寝る → 寝直す "go back to sleep"
う-verbs:
書く → 書き直す "rewrite"
作る → 作り直す "remake"
読む → 読み直す "reread"
言う → 言い直す "rephrase, say again"
Irregular:
する → し直す "redo"
来る → 来直す "come again"
Core Meaning
Doing over
レポートを書き直した
"Rewrote the report"
Implies: First version unsatisfactory
Had to do it again
Corrective action
料理を作り直す
"Remake the dish"
First attempt failed
Making it again
When to Use
Corrections
間違えたから、書き直す
"Made a mistake, so (I'll) rewrite it"
失敗したので、やり直す
"Failed, so (I'll) do it over"
Error correction
Improvement attempt
Reconsideration
考え直す
"Reconsider, think again"
予定を考え直した
"Reconsidered the plans"
Changed mind
Rethinking decisions
Physical correction
服を着直す
"Put on clothes again (properly)"
髪を結び直す
"Retie hair"
Physical adjustment
Fixing appearance
Common Verbs with 直す
Writing and creation
書き直す - rewrite
Most common
作り直す - remake
Very common
描き直す - redraw
Art context
録り直す - re-record
Media context
Mental actions
考え直す - reconsider
Very common
見直す - review, look again
Common for checking
思い直す - change one's mind
Reconsider opinion
Physical actions
やり直す - redo, do over
Most general
着直す - put on (clothes) again
Physical correction
並べ直す - rearrange
Reorganize
Transitivity
Maintains verb pattern
Transitive stays transitive:
手紙を書き直す "rewrite a letter"
服を着直す "put on clothes again"
Object is what gets redone
Same object as original verb
Nuance: Correction Focus
Implies need for improvement
書き直す
Not just writing again
But correcting/improving
作り直す
Not just making again
But fixing mistakes
Corrective connotation
Improvement implied
Special Meaning: 見直す
Multiple meanings
見直す can mean:
1. Look at again (literally)
もう一度見直す "look again"
2. Review/check
レポートを見直す "review report"
3. Reevaluate/reconsider opinion
彼を見直した "I gained new respect for him"
Context determines meaning
Very versatile compound
With Mistakes
Error correction context
間違えたから書き直した
"Made a mistake so rewrote it"
失敗したのでやり直す
"Failed so doing it over"
Often follows mistake/failure
Natural sequence
Expressing Need
"Need to redo"
書き直さなければならない
"Must rewrite"
やり直す必要がある
"There's a need to redo"
作り直した方がいい
"Better to remake it"
Obligation to redo
Necessary correction
Politeness in Context
Asking to redo
書き直してください
"Please rewrite (it)"
もう一度やり直してもらえますか
"Could you do it over again?"
Polite requests
Professional contexts
Common Collocations
書き直す - rewrite
Most frequent
やり直す - redo
General purpose
考え直す - reconsider
Common mental action
作り直す - remake
Common for creation
見直す - review
Very common checking
Natural combinations
Learn as units
Formality
Neutral usage
Can use in:
- Casual: 書き直した
- Polite: 書き直しました
- Formal writing: 書き直した
Adjust with conjugation
Not inherently formal/casual
Conjugation
Regular う-verb
直す is an う-verb:
Present: 直す
Past: 直した
Negative: 直さない
Te-form: 直して
Potential: 直せる
Causative: 直させる
Passive: 直される
Standard う-verb patterns
Standalone 直す
As independent verb
Standalone 直す means "fix/repair":
時計を直す "fix a watch"
壊れた物を直す "repair broken thing"
Compound 直す means "do over":
書き直す "rewrite"
作り直す "remake"
Different but related meanings
Context determines
Multiple Attempts
Repeated redoing
何度も書き直した
"Rewrote many times"
何回もやり直した
"Did over many times"
Persistent correction
Multiple attempts
Until satisfactory
With てみる
"Try redoing"
書き直してみる
"Try rewriting"
作り直してみよう
"Let's try remaking"
Experimental redoing
Test approach
Negative Implications
Often implies dissatisfaction
Using 直す suggests:
- First attempt inadequate
- Mistakes were made
- Improvement needed
Not always negative
But corrective nature
Common Mistakes
❌ Using dictionary form
✗ 書く直す
✓ Using stem form
✓ 書き直す
❌ Confusing with 治す (heal)
直す = fix/redo
治す = cure/heal
✓ Check context and kanji
❌ Wrong conjugation
✗ 直した (naoita)
✓ Correct conjugation
✓ 直した (naoshita)
Practical Examples
Real-life situations
この部分を書き直してください
"Please rewrite this part"
失敗したからもう一度やり直そう
"Failed so let's do it over again"
計画を考え直す必要がある
"Need to reconsider the plan"
ちょっと着直してくる
"I'll go fix my clothes"
Everyday usage
Natural contexts
Correction and improvement