凝らす

• Reading: こらす
• Romaji: korasu
• Kanji breakdown: 凝 (gyō/ko) — to concentrate, solidify, be absorbed
• Pronunciation: /ko.ɾa.sɯ/

Meaning

To concentrate; to focus intently; to elaborate; to apply with great care and ingenuity.

A Group 1 (godan) verb, the transitive/causative form of 凝る (koru, to be absorbed in, to stiffen). Common compound expressions are staples of N1-level Japanese: 目を凝らす (to strain one's eyes, peer intently), 耳を凝らす (to listen with concentration), 趣向を凝らす (to devise with ingenuity, to elaborate a plan or design). The common thread is intensely directing one's faculties toward a single point.

Examples

1. 暗闇の中で目を凝らすと、人影がぼんやりと見えた。 When I strained my eyes in the darkness, I could faintly make out a figure.
2. 主催者は趣向を凝らした演出で来場者を魅了した。 The organizer captivated the audience with an elaborately crafted presentation.
3. 彼女は耳を凝らしてドアの外の会話を聞き取ろうとした。 She strained her ears to catch the conversation outside the door.

Usage Guide

Context: attention, creativity, sensory focus, design

Tone: focused

Origin & History

Causative and transitive form of 凝る (koru). The kanji 凝 combines the ice radical (冫) with a component suggesting solidification, evoking the concentration of energy or attention into a single dense point.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal