Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "終わります" vs "届く"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
終わります
おわります (owarimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
届く
とどく (todoku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 終わります and 届く are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
終わります (おわります (owarimasu)) represents "to finish, to end" (Level: N5) and typically represents Intransitive verb. Used for events, tasks, or time periods coming to an end. Often paired with が..
On the other hand, 届く (とどく (todoku)) translates to "to reach, to arrive, to be delivered (intransitive)" (Level: N4) and is used for 物や情報が目的地に到着すること。また、手や声などが届くこと。自動詞。/ For an object or information to arrive at a destination. Also, for one's hand or voice to reach. Intransitive verb.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "終わります"
授業は3時に終わります。
The class finishes at 3 o'clock.
Bilingual Sentence for "届く"
昨日、注文した本が家に届きました。
The book I ordered arrived at my house yesterday.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "授業は3時に ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "The class finishes at 3 o'clock.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "終わります" fits here because it represents "to finish, to end" in the context: "The class finishes at 3 o'clock.".