Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "終わります" vs "点ける"
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
点ける
つける (tsukeru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 終わります and 点ける 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, 点ける (つける (tsukeru)) translates to "to turn on; to light; to switch on" (Level: N4) and is used for Transitive verb. Commonly used for turning on lights. 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 "点ける"
部屋が暗いので、電気を点けてください。
The room is dark, so please turn on the light.
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.".