Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Come" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "come", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
差し掛かる
さしかかる (sashikakaru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
かなう
かなう (kanau)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "come" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 差し掛かる and かなう.
In Japanese, 差し掛かる (さしかかる (sashikakaru)) is typically associated with "to come to (a place), to approach, to be on the verge of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents ある場所や時間、段階に近づくことや、そこに着くことを表します。物理的な場所だけでなく、時期や年齢にも使われます。.
On the other hand, かなう (かなう (kanau)) maps to "to come true (wish); to be realized (dream); to match; to be equal to" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Primarily means for a wish or dream to be fulfilled. A literal translation of "come" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "差し掛かる"
列車はまもなく駅に差し掛かるだろう。
The train will soon approach the station.
Bilingual Context for "かなう"
彼の長年の夢がついにかなった。
His long-cherished dream finally came true.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "列車はまもなく駅に ＿＿＿ だろう。" (Meaning: "The train will soon approach the station.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "差し掛かる" fits here because it means "to come to (a place), to approach, to be on the verge of" in the context of: "The train will soon approach the station.". "かなう" represents "to come true (wish); to be realized (dream); to match; to be equal to".