Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Give" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "give", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
施す
ほどこす (hodokosu)
N2 / 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 施す and 見限る.
In Japanese, 施す (ほどこす (hodokosu)) is typically associated with "to give; to donate; to apply; to perform (treatment)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Often implies giving charity, performing treatment, or applying something.
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 "施す"
被災者に食料と医薬品を施した。
They provided food and medicine to the disaster victims.
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: "被災者に食料と医薬品を施した。" (Meaning: "They provided food and medicine to the disaster victims.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "施す" fits here because it means "to give; to donate; to apply; to perform (treatment)" in the context of: "They provided food and medicine to the disaster victims.". "見限る" represents "to give up on, to abandon, to despair of".