表す

Derived as the verb form of adjective 露 (arawa, “naked, bare; open, revealed”), as a compound of 露 (arawa) +‎ す (-su, causativizing suffix; root of modern する (suru, “to do; to make something do”)), with an original meaning of “to make something open and public, to make something apparent”.[1]

• 表わす, 現わす, 現す, 顕わす, 顕す

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) あらわ​す [àráwáꜜsù] (Nakadaka – [3])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [a̠ɾa̠ɰᵝa̠sɨ̥ᵝ]

表す (transitive, godan conjugation, hiragana あらわす, rōmaji arawasu, historical hiragana あらはす)

1. to show, to make apparent
2. to express, to put into words
3. to signify, to represent, to symbolize, to stand for

This verb can be spelled many different ways. The spellings with the kana わ might be preferred for avoiding ambiguous readings. In general, which kanji to use depends on which sense one wishes to emphasize:[3]

• 表 has connotations of front and surface, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to expressing something in words or symbols.
• 現 has connotations of real and realize, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to making something that was previously hidden now visible.
• 顕 has connotations of apparent and manifest, and is most often used to spell arawasu when referring to making something widely known or publicizing.

• 著 (あら)わす, 著 (あらわ)す (arawasu): of the same original meaning of to make something public, but now limited to meaning to publish

Derived from Middle Chinese 表 (MC piᴇu^X), as a compound of 表 (hyō) +‎ す (-su, causativizing / transitivizing suffix; root of modern する (suru), “to do; to make something do”).[1]

• (Tokyo) ひょ​ーす [hyóꜜòsù] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
• IPA^(key): [ço̞ːsɨᵝ]

表す (transitive, godan conjugation, hiragana ひょうす, rōmaji hyōsu, historical hiragana へうす)

1. to express, to say in words, to put into words

This is an archaic form. The modern form is 表 (ひょう)する (hyōsuru).