Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Get" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "get", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
汚れる
よごれる (yogoreru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
罷り通る
まかりとおる (makaritōru)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "get" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 汚れる and 罷り通る.
In Japanese, 汚れる (よごれる (yogoreru)) is typically associated with "to get dirty (intransitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when something *becomes* dirty. It describes the state of becoming dirty, often without specifying an agent.
On the other hand, 罷り通る (まかりとおる (makaritōru)) maps to "to get away with (something), to be accepted (unjustly/despite flaws), to go unchallenged" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Often used in a somewhat critical or exasperated tone, describing a situation where something illogical, unfair, or incorrect is accepted or allowed to happen without proper challenge. It can also mean that something. A literal translation of "get" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "汚れる"
白い服が泥で汚れてしまいました。
My white clothes got dirty with mud.
Bilingual Context for "罷り通る"
この会社では、不正な経費申請が罷り通っているらしい。
It seems that fraudulent expense claims are going unchallenged in this company.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "白い服が泥で汚れてしまいました。" (Meaning: "My white clothes got dirty with mud.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "汚れる" fits here because it means "to get dirty (intransitive)" in the context of: "My white clothes got dirty with mud.". "罷り通る" represents "to get away with (something), to be accepted (unjustly/despite flaws), to go unchallenged".