Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Go" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "go", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
迎えに行く
むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
まいる
まいる (mairu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "go" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 迎えに行く and まいる.
In Japanese, 迎えに行く (むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)) is typically associated with "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.
On the other hand, まいる (まいる (mairu)) maps to "to go, to come (humble form of いく/くる)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents 「行く」や「来る」の謙譲語で、自分の行動をへりくだって表現する際に使います。目上の人に対して話す時に用いる丁寧な表現です。Humble form of 'iku' and 'kuru', used to express one's own actions humbly. It's a polite expression used when speaking to superiors.. A literal translation of "go" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
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.
Bilingual Context for "まいる"
明日、先生の研究室へ参ります。
I will go to the teacher's office tomorrow.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私は駅まで友達を迎えに行きました。" (Meaning: "I went to the station to pick up my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "迎えに行く" fits here because it means "to go to pick up (someone/something)" in the context of: "I went to the station to pick up my friend.". "まいる" represents "to go, to come (humble form of いく/くる)".