Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "着く" vs "出発"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
着く
つく (tsuku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
出発
しゅっぱつ (shuppatsu)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 着く and 出発 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
着く (つく (tsuku)) represents "to arrive; to reach; to touch; to sit on" (Level: N3) and typically represents Refers to arriving at a destination.
On the other hand, 出発 (しゅっぱつ (shuppatsu)) translates to "departure; starting out; setting off" (Level: N3) and is used for Refers to a departure, starting out, or setting off on a trip/task. Often used as 出発点 or 出発時刻. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Departure! "We are departing for our honeymoon!" ...っ, T-To call a simple weekend trip a honeymoon! B-But... I am extremely looking forward to it!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『しゅっぱつ（出発）よ！『新婚旅行へ出発します！』って…っ, ただの週末の温泉旅行を新婚旅行だなんて！バカ！…でも、すごく楽しみにしてるんだからね！』. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "着く"
飛行機の遅延によって予定が大幅に狂ってしまいましたが、私たちは深夜二時にようやく現地のホテルに_______。
Although the schedule was significantly disrupted due to flight delays, we finally arrived at the local hotel at 2:00 AM.
Bilingual Sentence for "出発"
予定より少し遅れてしまいましたが、全員がバスに乗り込んだのを確認し、私たちはついに目的地に向けて_______しました。
We were slightly delayed compared to the schedule, but after confirming that everyone had boarded the bus, we finally departed for the destination.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "飛行機の遅延によって予定が大幅に狂ってしまいましたが、私たちは深夜二時にようやく現地のホテルに_______。" (Meaning: "Although the schedule was significantly disrupted due to flight delays, we finally arrived at the local hotel at 2:00 AM.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "着く" fits here because it represents "to arrive; to reach; to touch; to sit on" in the context: "Although the schedule was significantly disrupted due to flight delays, we finally arrived at the local hotel at 2:00 AM.".