Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Go" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "go", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いってらっしゃい
いってらっしゃい (itterasshai)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
痺れる
しびれる (shibireru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "go" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いってらっしゃい and 痺れる.
In Japanese, いってらっしゃい (いってらっしゃい (itterasshai)) is typically associated with "Go and come back safely; See you later (response to 'ittekimasu')" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Said by those remaining behind to someone who is leaving.
On the other hand, 痺れる (しびれる (shibireru)) maps to "to go numb, to tingle, to be paralyzed (with emotion)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Can describe a physical sensation. A literal translation of "go" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いってらっしゃい"
父が「いってきます」と言うと、母は「いってらっしゃい」と答えます。
When my father says "Ittekimasu," my mother replies "Itterasshai."
Bilingual Context for "痺れる"
正座をしていたら、足が痺れてしまった。
My legs went numb from sitting seiza style.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "父が「いってきます」と言うと、母は「 ＿＿＿ 」と答えます。" (Meaning: "When my father says "Ittekimasu," my mother replies "Itterasshai."")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いってらっしゃい" fits here because it means "Go and come back safely; See you later (response to 'ittekimasu')" in the context of: "When my father says "Ittekimasu," my mother replies "Itterasshai."". "痺れる" represents "to go numb, to tingle, to be paralyzed (with emotion)".