Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Bring" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "bring", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
持ってくる
もってくる (mottekuru)
N4 / 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 持ってくる and もたらす.
In Japanese, 持ってくる (もってくる (mottekuru)) is typically associated with "to bring (something to the speaker/here)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents This compound verb combines 持つ.
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 "持ってくる"
明日、宿題を学校に持ってきてください。
Please bring your homework to school tomorrow.
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: "明日、宿題を学校に持ってきてください。" (Meaning: "Please bring your homework to school tomorrow.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "持ってくる" fits here because it means "to bring (something to the speaker/here)" in the context of: "Please bring your homework to school tomorrow.". "もたらす" represents "to bring about, to cause, to result in, to introduce".