- Basic forms
- 指す — to point; to indicate; to designate / base form
- 指します — (I) point; indicate / masu form
- 指した — pointed; indicated / ta form
- 指して — point and …; indicate and … / te-form
- 指さない — do not point / negative form
- 指せば — if (you) point / conditional
- 指せ — point! indicate! / imperative
- Other common forms
- 方向を指したい — want to point the direction / 〜たい form
- 道を指せる — can point the way / potential
- 指せた — was able to point / past potential
- 指せない — cannot point / negative potential
- More
- 指そう — let’s point; let’s indicate / 〜よう form
- 指さなかった — did not point / past negative
- 指している — is pointing; is indicating / progressive
指す(さす) is a godan verb ending in す. Stem alternates as 指し → 指す → 指して → 指した. Used for physically pointing, indicating directions, or designating something such as a position or concept.
- 指 — finger
- 指す — to point
- 指示 — instruction, direction
- 指定 — designation
- 指導 — guidance
- 指名 — nomination
More examples ▼
指 is built from two parts: the radical 扌 (hand) on the left, and the phonetic part 旨 (meaning “intention” or “aim”) on the right. Together, they suggest the image of a hand pointing with purpose. This structure explains why the kanji means “finger” and by extension “to point” or “to indicate.”
先生は 黒板を指しました。
The teacher pointed at the blackboard.
指を切らないように注意してください。
Please be careful not to cut your finger.
