Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "とります" vs "申し込む"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
とります
とります (torimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
申し込む
もうしこむ (mōshikomu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both とります and 申し込む are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
とります (とります (torimasu)) represents "to take (a photo, a class, a break, etc.), to grab, to pass (salt)" (Level: N5) and typically represents A versatile verb with multiple meanings depending on the context. Common usages include 写真を撮る.
On the other hand, 申し込む (もうしこむ (mōshikomu)) translates to "to apply for, to make a reservation, to subscribe" (Level: N4) and is used for イベント参加やサービス利用など、何かを正式に願い出ること。他動詞。/ To formally request something, such as participating in an event or using a service. Transitive verb.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "とります"
写真を撮りましょう。
Let's take a photo.
Bilingual Sentence for "申し込む"
来月の旅行の予約を申し込みました。
I applied for a reservation for next month's trip.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "写真を撮りましょう。" (Meaning: "Let's take a photo.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とります" fits here because it represents "to take (a photo, a class, a break, etc.), to grab, to pass (salt)" in the context: "Let's take a photo.".