Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Give" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "give", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
与える
あたえる (ataeru)
N3 / 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 与える and 見限る.
In Japanese, 与える (あたえる (ataeru)) is typically associated with "to give; to grant; to cause; to impact" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to giving/granting opportunities, awards, causing impacts.
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 "与える"
彼の卓越した技術的リーダーシップは、若手のエンジニアたちに多大な好影響を_______、チームの士気を高めました。
His outstanding technical leadership gave a great positive impact to the young engineers and raised the morale of the team.
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: "彼の卓越した技術的リーダーシップは、若手のエンジニアたちに多大な好影響を_______、チームの士気を高めました。" (Meaning: "His outstanding technical leadership gave a great positive impact to the young engineers and raised the morale of the team.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "与える" fits here because it means "to give; to grant; to cause; to impact" in the context of: "His outstanding technical leadership gave a great positive impact to the young engineers and raised the morale of the team.". "見限る" represents "to give up on, to abandon, to despair of".