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
埋め合わせる
うめあわせる (umeawaseru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between かける and 埋め合わせる.
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, 埋め合わせる (うめあわせる (umeawaseru)) maps to "to make up for; to compensate for; to make amends" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents 損失や不足、過ちなどに対して、何かをして帳消しにする、または等価なものを提供する状況で使う。Used when doing something to cancel out a loss, deficiency, or mistake, or providing something equivalent.. 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 "埋め合わせる"
昨日の遅刻を埋め合わせるために、今日は早く出社した。
To make up for being late yesterday, I came to work early today.
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.". "埋め合わせる" represents "to make up for; to compensate for; to make amends".