Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Bring" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "bring", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
もってくる
もってくる (motte kuru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
もたらす
もたらす (motarasu)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "bring" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between もってくる and もたらす.
In Japanese, もってくる (もってくる (motte kuru)) is typically associated with "to bring (something here)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Implies moving an object from another location towards the current.
On the other hand, もたらす (もたらす (motarasu)) maps to "to bring about, to cause, to result in, to introduce" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Often used for abstract things like results, effects, changes, or benefits/disadvantages. It's more formal than 持っていく. 例: 利益をもたらす. A literal translation of "bring" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "もってくる"
ここにペンを持ってきてください。
Please bring a pen here.
Bilingual Context for "もたらす"
その新しい政策は社会に大きな変化をもたらした。
The new policy brought about significant changes in society.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ここにペンを持ってきてください。" (Meaning: "Please bring a pen here.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "もってくる" fits here because it means "to bring (something here)" in the context of: "Please bring a pen here.". "もたらす" represents "to bring about, to cause, to result in, to introduce".