Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Go" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "go", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
出かけます
でかけます (dekakemasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
迎えに行く
むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "go" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 出かけます and 迎えに行く.
In Japanese, 出かけます (でかけます (dekakemasu)) is typically associated with "to go out, to leave" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Intransitive verb. Used for leaving a place.
On the other hand, 迎えに行く (むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)) maps to "to go to pick up (someone/something)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when you go to a place to meet and bring back a person. A literal translation of "go" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "出かけます"
友達と買い物に出かけます。
I go out shopping with my friend.
Bilingual Context for "迎えに行く"
私は駅まで友達を迎えに行きました。
I went to the station to pick up my friend.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達と買い物に ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I go out shopping with my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "出かけます" fits here because it means "to go out, to leave" in the context of: "I go out shopping with my friend.". "迎えに行く" represents "to go to pick up (someone/something)".