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
得る
える (eru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "get" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 起きます and 得る.
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, 得る (える (eru)) maps to "to get; to obtain; to acquire; to win" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to acquiring abstract things. 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 "得る"
彼は徹底的なユーザー調査を行い、新規ビジネスを立ち上げるための貴重な市場データを_______ことができました。
He conducted a thorough user survey and was able to obtain valuable market data to launch a new business.
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.". "得る" represents "to get; to obtain; to acquire; to win".