Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
かける
かける (kakeru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
さわぐ
さわぐ (sawagu)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between かける and さわぐ.
In Japanese, かける (かける (kakeru)) is typically associated with "to make a phone call; to hang; to wear (glasses)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents This verb has multiple meanings. For N5, common usages include 「電話をかける」.
On the other hand, さわぐ (さわぐ (sawagu)) maps to "to make noise, to be boisterous, to make a fuss" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to making loud noise or creating a disturbance. Often implies inappropriate or excessive noise.. A literal translation of "make" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "かける"
友達に電話をかけます。
I will make a phone call to my friend.
Bilingual Context for "さわぐ"
図書館で騒いではいけません。
You must not make noise in the library.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達に電話をかけます。" (Meaning: "I will make a phone call to my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "かける" fits here because it means "to make a phone call; to hang; to wear (glasses)" in the context of: "I will make a phone call to my friend.". "さわぐ" represents "to make noise, to be boisterous, to make a fuss".