Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Get" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "get", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
降りる
おりる (oriru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
酔う
よう (you)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "get" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 降りる and 酔う.
In Japanese, 降りる (おりる (oriru)) is typically associated with "to get off (a vehicle), to dismount" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents 乗り物から外に出るときに使います。Polite form is 降ります.
On the other hand, 酔う (よう (you)) maps to "to get drunk, to get seasick/carsick" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Can mean to get drunk from alcohol, or to feel motion sickness. A literal translation of "get" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "降りる"
次の駅でバスを降ります。
I will get off the bus at the next station.
Bilingual Context for "酔う"
昨夜、お酒を飲みすぎて酔ってしまった。
I drank too much last night and got drunk.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "次の駅でバスを降ります。" (Meaning: "I will get off the bus at the next station.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "降りる" fits here because it means "to get off (a vehicle), to dismount" in the context of: "I will get off the bus at the next station.". "酔う" represents "to get drunk, to get seasick/carsick".