Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "泣きます" vs "持って行く"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
泣きます
なきます (nakimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
持って行く
もっていく (motte iku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 泣きます and 持って行く are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
泣きます (なきます (nakimasu)) represents "to cry" (Level: N5) and typically represents Verb, polite form. Refers to the act of shedding tears due to sadness, pain, or other emotions. The dictionary form is 泣く.
On the other hand, 持って行く (もっていく (motte iku)) translates to "to take (an object)" (Level: N4) and is used for Specifically for taking objects somewhere. For people/animals, use 連れて行く. 物を自分の手で移動させる。. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "泣きます"
子供が転んで泣きました。
The child fell and cried.
Bilingual Sentence for "持って行く"
お弁当を持って会社に行きます。
I take my bento box to the office.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "子供が転んで泣きました。" (Meaning: "The child fell and cried.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "泣きます" fits here because it represents "to cry" in the context: "The child fell and cried.".