Meaning and Usage
"行う" (おこなう) means "to carry out," "to perform," or "to conduct." It is a formal verb often used in business, official, or organized contexts to describe the execution of plans, events, or actions.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "行う" used when talking about conducting meetings, events, experiments, or official procedures. It implies a deliberate and organized action rather than casual or spontaneous activity.
Collocations and Patterns
- 行う + ことにする: to decide to carry out something (e.g., 新しい計画を行うことにする)
- 行われる (passive form): to be held or conducted (e.g., 会議が行われる)
- 安全に行う: to carry out safely
Register and Politeness
"行う" is neutral to formal and is appropriate in written and spoken Japanese in professional or formal settings. It is more formal than verbs like "する" when describing actions.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "行う" with "行く" (to go) because of similar kanji. Remember "行う" focuses on performing an action, not movement.
Use "行う" when you want to emphasize the execution or performance of an action, especially in formal or official contexts.