Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "つけます" vs "もってくる"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
つけます
つけます (tsukemasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
もってくる
もってくる (motte kuru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both つけます and もってくる are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
つけます (つけます (tsukemasu)) represents "to turn on (a light, power, etc.)" (Level: N5) and typically represents Transitive verb. Used for switching on electrical appliances, lights, etc. The object is marked with を..
On the other hand, もってくる (もってくる (motte kuru)) translates to "to bring (something here)" (Level: N5) and is used for Implies moving an object from another location towards the current. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "つけます"
テレビをつけます。
I turn on the TV.
Bilingual Sentence for "もってくる"
ここにペンを持ってきてください。
Please bring a pen here.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "テレビを ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I turn on the TV.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "つけます" fits here because it represents "to turn on (a light, power, etc.)" in the context: "I turn on the TV.".