Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Carry" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "carry", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
運ぶ
はこぶ (hakobu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
帯びる
おびる (obiru)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "carry" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 運ぶ and 帯びる.
In Japanese, 運ぶ (はこぶ (hakobu)) is typically associated with "to carry, to transport" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Refers to moving items from one place to another, often implying effort or a larger quantity/size than 持って行く. 物を移動させる。.
On the other hand, 帯びる (おびる (obiru)) maps to "to carry, to be tinged with" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "carry" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "運ぶ"
この大きな荷物を一人で運ぶのは大変だ。
It's hard to carry this large luggage alone.
Bilingual Context for "帯びる"
毎日、日本語を練習するために帯びる。
Every day, I carry, to be tinged with to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この大きな荷物を一人で ___ のは大変だ。" (Meaning: "It's hard to carry this large luggage alone.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "運ぶ" fits here because it means "to carry, to transport" in the context of: "It's hard to carry this large luggage alone.". "帯びる" represents "to carry, to be tinged with".