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Grammar detail: 一(ひと)phrasal verbs

一(ひと)phrasal verbs
256 words
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It is quite common in Japanese to turn simple expressions of the form
noun + を + verb
into an expression of the form
ひと
+ noun + verb
In other words, を is dropped, and 一 is added. The expressions (known technically as 'phrasal verbs') that result have the same general meaning as the original form, but often add a somewhat heightened or emphatic sense.
Additionally, the modified form can be used as an adjective to modify the succeeding term or phrase, which would not sound natural with the original form containing を.
Most common form: 汗を掻く
expression, 'ku' godan verb
to perspire; to sweat
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expression, 'ku' godan verb
to work up a good sweat; to take good exercise  (see also: 汗をかく)
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Where 汗をかく means simply 'to sweat', 一汗かく suggests something more along the lines of 'work up a good sweat'.
0
expression, 'ku' godan verb
to take a breath; to take a short rest
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0
expression, 'ku' godan verb
1. to take a breather; to take a rest  (see also: 一息入れる)
2. to catch one's breath; to take a breath
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expression, ichidan verb
to hit the mark; to be on target
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0
expression, ichidan verb
to be right on target; to strike it rich
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expression, 'tsu' godan verb
1. to play a trick; to put up a false show; to deceive someone
2. to put on a play; to present a play; to give a play  (see also: 一芝居打つ; original meaning)
(click the word for examples and links)
0
expression, 'tsu' godan verb
to play a trick; to put up a false show; to deceive someone  (see also: 芝居を打つ)
(click the word for examples and links)
Many verbs of this form simply use する. Here are a few examples:
single word; a few words; brief comment
feeling of relief
contrivance; bit of fiddling; little ingenuity
a hard time; pains
making money; making a profit
Note:
ひと
+ another (typically single kanji) word is a common pattern, meaning 'a single', often with the connotation of 'just ~' or 'a little ~'. For example:
ages; long time; decade; the past ten years
long ago; previous; of a former age
conspicuously; noticeably; remarkably; still more; especially
glance; look; glimpse
one digit; one column; the "ones" column
doing a job; riding and sweating up a horse
step; short distance; short time
one breath; pause; rest
one turn; one round
(in) general; broad (e.g. knowledge); the basics
handful; small handful
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Kanji used in this grammar

イチ   イツ   ひと    ひと- one   
カン   あせ sweat   
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ゲン   ゴン   say; word   こと word, saying   い to say   
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アン   やす peaceful; cheap   
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シン   こころ heart   
コウ   ク    work; construction; craft   
フ   フウ   おっと husband   
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ク   くるしい painful   くるしむ to suffer   くるしめる to torment   にが bitter   にが to feel bitter   
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ロウ    labor   
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チョ   profit   もうける to make a profit   
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セキ   シャク   ancient; old   むかし ancient   
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ゼン   まえ before   
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サイ    occasion   きわ    -ぎわ edge   
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ボク   モク   eye   ま-    め    
けた column, girder; digit   
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ソク   あし foot; leg   た to add   た    たりる to be sufficient   
ソク   いき breath   
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カイ   エ   まわ to revolve   まわ to make turn   
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ツ   ツウ   とお to pass through   とお to let pass   かよ to commute   
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アク   にぎ to grasp   
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