Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "かえります" vs "ある"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
かえります
かえります (kaerimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
ある
ある (aru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both かえります and ある are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
かえります (かえります (kaerimasu)) represents "to return, to go home" (Level: N5) and typically represents Used when returning to a place, typically one's home.
On the other hand, ある (ある (aru)) translates to "to exist (inanimate), to be (for things), to have" (Level: N5) and is used for Used for non-living things. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "かえります"
毎日、会社から家に帰ります。
I go home from work every day.
Bilingual Sentence for "ある"
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "毎日、会社から家に帰ります。" (Meaning: "I go home from work every day.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "かえります" fits here because it represents "to return, to go home" in the context: "I go home from work every day.".