Meaning and Usage
悩ます (なやます) means to bother, trouble, or harass someone or oneself. It often implies causing mental or emotional distress rather than physical harm. It is a transitive verb and is used in both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to appear more in written or formal speech.
Common Collocations
- 悩ます + 人 (e.g., 隣人を悩ます): to bother or trouble a person
- 自分を悩ます: to trouble oneself, often with worries or problems
- 小さな問題で悩ます: to be troubled by small problems
Nuances
When using 悩ます, the focus is on causing annoyance or distress. It can be used for external causes (someone bothering another) or internal causes (one troubling oneself). It is stronger than just "bother" and can imply persistent or significant distress.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 悩ます with 悩む (なやむ), which means "to be troubled" or "to worry" but is intransitive. 悩ます requires a direct object (someone or something being troubled), while 悩む does not.
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悩ます is somewhat formal and literary compared to more casual verbs like 困らせる (こまらせる). It is suitable for written Japanese, news, or formal speech.