Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Give" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "give", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
くださる
くださる (kudasaru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
見限る
みかぎる (mikagiru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "give" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between くださる and 見限る.
In Japanese, くださる (くださる (kudasaru)) is typically associated with "to give (honorific, when the giver is superior to the recipient)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Honorific form of くれる.
On the other hand, 見限る (みかぎる (mikagiru)) maps to "to give up on, to abandon, to despair of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents To decide that someone or something is hopeless, worthless, or beyond redemption, and to stop expecting anything positive from them. It often implies a final and decisive abandonment.. A literal translation of "give" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "くださる"
部長が私に新しいプロジェクトの情報をくださった。
The department manager gave me information about the new project.
Bilingual Context for "見限る"
何度も裏切られたため、ついに彼を見限ることにした。
Having been betrayed many times, I finally decided to give up on him.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "部長が私に新しいプロジェクトの情報をくださった。" (Meaning: "The department manager gave me information about the new project.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "くださる" fits here because it means "to give (honorific, when the giver is superior to the recipient)" in the context of: "The department manager gave me information about the new project.". "見限る" represents "to give up on, to abandon, to despair of".