Using し before a verb and する at the end


I have seen several verbs used with し and する. What is the difference and can
they be used interchangeably? Here are a few examples, The dictionary
translates them all the same:

し損なう、損なう、損ないする

Also are these the same forms below and can they be used in interchangeably

し払う ( i've seen it written as 支払う)、払う、払いする

And finally can I do this with any verb?




し損なう is a compound verb, consisting of the continuative form (連用形) of the verb
する + the verb 損なう, meaning "fail to do (correctly)" "to miss (the chance to
do~~)", e.g.

> 計算をし損なう "make an error in calculation"  
>  留学をし損なう "missed the chance to go study abroad"

(You can also say 計算しそこなう / 留学しそこなう, leaving out を. In this case, you could
see them as compound verbs consisting of "する-verb 「計算する/留学する」+ verb 「損なう」",
rather than "noun「計算/留学」+ compound verb「し損なう」".)

損なう is a verb meaning "to ruin/spoil/hurt", e.g.

> 健康を損なう "ruin/lose one's health"  
>  友情を損なう "lose friendship"

And 損なう can be attached to another verb to make a compound verb, such as し損なう,
and:

> 乗りそこなう "fail to catch → miss (a train, bus, etc.)".  
>  撃ち損なう "miss the mark/shot"

I don't think we say 損ないする.

* * *

支払う is a verb (not a compound verb する + 払う), meaning "to pay (money/bill)".  
[Edit: As in @broccoliforest's comment, 支払う is derived from し (continuative
form of verb する) + 払う (verb "pay").]  
払う can be used for ほこりを払う "to brush/dust", 注意を払う "to pay (attention)", as well
as for "to pay (money/bill)". I think 払う is more casual and less formal, and
支払う is more used in a formal/business situation.  
I don't think we say 払いする, but you can say 支払いをする: noun 「支払い」(payment) +
object particle 「を」 + verb 「する」.

[Edit: You don't use just 「損ない + verb する」「払い + verb する」(turning 損ない/払い into a
する-verb), but if you're referring to phrases like 「損ないはする」「払いはする」, you can say
like 「損ない+は+しない」「払い+は+しない」「損ない+は+する(が～)」「払い+は+する(が～)」etc. and it's a different
usage than simply turning a noun into a する-verb.)

* * *

So, my answer to your final question `can I do this with any verb?` is, no,
you can not always attach し (continuative form of する) to the top of a verb,
and not all nouns can be used for a する-verb.




し損なう is a compound verb, consisting of the continuative form (連用形) of the verb
する + the verb 損なう, meaning "fail to do (correctly)" "to miss (the chance to
do~~)", e.g.

> 計算をし損なう "make an error in calculation"  
>  留学をし損なう "missed the chance to go study abroad"

(You can also say 計算しそこなう / 留学しそこなう, leaving out を. In this case, you could
see them as compound verbs consisting of "する-verb 「計算する/留学する」+ verb 「損なう」",
rather than "noun「計算/留学」+ compound verb「し損なう」".)

損なう is a verb meaning "to ruin/spoil/hurt", e.g.

> 健康を損なう "ruin/lose one's health"  
>  友情を損なう "lose friendship"

And 損なう can be attached to another verb to make a compound verb, such as し損なう,
and:

> 乗りそこなう "fail to catch → miss (a train, bus, etc.)".  
>  撃ち損なう "miss the mark/shot"

I don't think we say 損ないする.

* * *

支払う is a verb (not a compound verb する + 払う), meaning "to pay (money/bill)".  
[Edit: As in @broccoliforest's comment, 支払う is derived from し (continuative
form of verb する) + 払う (verb "pay").]  
払う can be used for ほこりを払う "to brush/dust", 注意を払う "to pay (attention)", as well
as for "to pay (money/bill)". I think 払う is more casual and less formal, and
支払う is more used in a formal/business situation.  
I don't think we say 払いする, but you can say 支払いをする: noun 「支払い」(payment) +
object particle 「を」 + verb 「する」.

[Edit: You don't use just 「損ない + verb する」「払い + verb する」(turning 損ない/払い into a
する-verb), but if you're referring to phrases like 「損ないはする」「払いはする」, you can say
like 「損ない+は+しない」「払い+は+しない」「損ない+は+する(が～)」「払い+は+する(が～)」etc. and it's a different
usage than simply turning a noun into a する-verb.)

* * *

So, my answer to your final question `can I do this with any verb?` is, no,
you can not always attach し (continuative form of する) to the top of a verb,
and not all nouns can be used for a する-verb.

