催す

• Reading: もよおす
• Romaji: moyōsu
• Kanji breakdown: 催 (sai/moyoo) — to hold (an event), to urge, to promote, to stimulate
• Pronunciation: /mo.joː.sɯ/

Meaning

To hold or sponsor (an event); to feel the onset of (an urge or emotion); to promote or stimulate.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with two distinct senses. In formal contexts it means to organise or sponsor an event (式典を催す, to hold a ceremony). In physiological or emotional contexts it means to feel the onset of something — 眠気を催す (to feel drowsy), 吐き気を催す (to feel nauseated). The event-organising sense is literary and formal; the physiological sense is candid and direct.

Examples

1. 市では毎年春に桜祭りを催している。 The city holds a cherry blossom festival every spring.
2. 長時間の会議で眠気を催した参加者が多かった。 Many participants felt drowsiness coming on during the long meeting.
3. 展覧会を催す準備に一ヶ月以上かかった。 It took over a month to prepare for holding the exhibition.

Usage Guide

Context: events, ceremonies, physiology, emotions

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Old Japanese 催す, meaning to urge, prompt, or assemble. The kanji 催 combines the person radical with a component suggesting gathering and promoting, conveying both organisation and stimulation.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal