Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Far" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "far", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
とおく
とおく (tooku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
遠い
とおい (tōi)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "far" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とおく and 遠い.
In Japanese, とおく (とおく (tooku)) is typically associated with "far, distant" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Describes distance. Opposite of ちかく.
On the other hand, 遠い (とおい (tōi)) maps to "far, distant" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents い-adjective. Describes physical or temporal distance. Its opposite is 近い. A literal translation of "far" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "とおく"
わたしの家は会社から遠いです。
My house is far from the office.
Bilingual Context for "遠い"
駅はここから遠いです。
The station is far from here.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "わたしの家は会社から遠いです。" (Meaning: "My house is far from the office.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とおく" fits here because it means "far, distant" in the context of: "My house is far from the office.". "遠い" represents "far, distant".