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
役立てる
やくだてる (yakudateru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between かける and 役立てる.
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, 役立てる (やくだてる (yakudateru)) maps to "to make use of, to put to good use, to utilize" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Often used to express making something useful or contributing to something. Could be for skills, experiences, or tools.. 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 "役立てる"
この経験を今後の仕事に役立てたい。
I want to put this experience to good use in my future work.
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.". "役立てる" represents "to make use of, to put to good use, to utilize".