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
遠く
とおく (tooku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "far" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とおく and 遠く.
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, 遠く (とおく (tooku)) maps to "far, distant, a long way off" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents 物理的な距離が離れていることを示します。「遠くに」として場所を指すことが多いです。. 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 "遠く"
彼の故郷はとても遠いです。
His hometown is very far away.
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.". "遠く" represents "far, distant, a long way off".