Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Arrive" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "arrive", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
つく
つく (tsuku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
至る
いたる (itaru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "arrive" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between つく and 至る.
In Japanese, つく (つく (tsuku)) is typically associated with "to arrive; to reach" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Intransitive verb. Often used to express arriving at a place.
On the other hand, 至る (いたる (itaru)) maps to "to arrive at, to reach, to lead to" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Often implies reaching a specific point, conclusion, or state, sometimes after a long process. More formal than 届く for destinations. Also used in patterns like 〜に至るまで. A literal translation of "arrive" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "つく"
会社に8時に着きました。
I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.
Bilingual Context for "至る"
議論は夜遅くまで続き、ついに結論に至った。
The discussion continued until late at night, and finally reached a conclusion.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "会社に8時に着きました。" (Meaning: "I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "つく" fits here because it means "to arrive; to reach" in the context of: "I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.". "至る" represents "to arrive at, to reach, to lead to".