Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Cherish" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "cherish", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
大切にする
たいせつにする (taisetsu ni suru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
弊帚千金
へいそうせんきん
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "cherish" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 大切にする and 弊帚千金.
In Japanese, 大切にする (たいせつにする (taisetsu ni suru)) is typically associated with "to cherish, to value, to take good care of" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Expresses the act of treating something or someone with great care and importance, or keeping something safe..
On the other hand, 弊帚千金 (へいそうせんきん) maps to "To cherish something of little objective value simply because it is one's own (lit. 'my worn-out broom is worth a thousand gold pieces')." (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "cherish" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "大切にする"
このプレゼントを大切にします。
I will cherish this present.
Bilingual Context for "弊帚千金"
毎日、日本語を練習するために弊帚千金。
Every day, I cherish something of little objective value simply because it is one's own (lit. 'my worn-out broom is worth a thousand gold pieces'). to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "このプレゼントを大切にします。" (Meaning: "I will cherish this present.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大切にする" fits here because it means "to cherish, to value, to take good care of" in the context of: "I will cherish this present.". "弊帚千金" represents "To cherish something of little objective value simply because it is one's own (lit. 'my worn-out broom is worth a thousand gold pieces').".