Meaning and Usage
The verb "生じる" (しょうじる) means "to occur," "to arise," or "to be generated." It is often used in formal or written contexts to describe the emergence of events, problems, or effects. It is a transitive verb but often appears in passive or intransitive contexts describing something happening or coming into existence.
Common Contexts
"生じる" is frequently used in news reports, official documents, and scientific or technical writing to indicate the occurrence of incidents, problems, or side effects. It is less common in casual conversation, where simpler verbs like "起きる" or "できる" might be preferred.
Collocations and Patterns
- 事故が生じる (じこがしょうじる): an accident occurs
- 問題が生じる (もんだいがしょうじる): a problem arises
- 副作用が生じる (ふくさようがしょうじる): side effects occur
- ～場合に生じる (～ばあいにしょうじる): occurs in the case of ~
These collocations emphasize the formal tone and are useful in professional or academic settings.
Register and Nuance
"生じる" carries a neutral to formal tone and is appropriate in written and formal spoken Japanese. It implies a cause-and-effect relationship or the natural emergence of something rather than a sudden or accidental event.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "生じる" with "起きる" (おきる), which also means "to occur." "起きる" is more general and used in everyday conversation, while "生じる" is more formal and often used when emphasizing the origin or cause of an event. Use "生じる" when you want to sound more formal or precise.