Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Get" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "get", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
起きます
おきます (okimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
就職する
しゅうしょくする (shūshoku suru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "get" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 起きます and 就職する.
In Japanese, 起きます (おきます (okimasu)) is typically associated with "to get up, to wake up" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Polite form of 起こす.
On the other hand, 就職する (しゅうしょくする (shūshoku suru)) maps to "to get a job, to find employment" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents To start working for a company or organization after completing studies or being unemployed. Often used by students graduating from university.. A literal translation of "get" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "起きます"
私は毎朝6時に起きます。
I wake up at 6 AM every morning.
Bilingual Context for "就職する"
彼は大学を卒業後、すぐにIT企業に就職しました。
After graduating from university, he immediately got a job at an IT company.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私は毎朝6時に ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I wake up at 6 AM every morning.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "起きます" fits here because it means "to get up, to wake up" in the context of: "I wake up at 6 AM every morning.". "就職する" represents "to get a job, to find employment".