Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "あります" vs "走る"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
あります
あります (arimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
走る
はしる (hashiru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both あります and 走る are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
あります (あります (arimasu)) represents "to have, to exist (inanimate objects)" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of ある. Used for the existence or possession of inanimate objects..
On the other hand, 走る (はしる (hashiru)) translates to "to run" (Level: N4) and is used for To move quickly on foot. Can also refer to vehicles driving. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "あります"
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
Bilingual Sentence for "走る"
彼は毎日５キロ走ります。
He runs 5 kilometers every day.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "机の上に本が ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "There is a book on the desk.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "あります" fits here because it represents "to have, to exist (inanimate objects)" in the context: "There is a book on the desk.".