Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
そろえる
そろえる (soroeru)
N3 / 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 そろえる and さわぐ.
In Japanese, そろえる (そろえる (soroeru)) is typically associated with "to make uniform, to arrange, to collect (all of something)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A transitive verb. Often used for aligning things, making them uniform, or collecting a complete set..
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 "そろえる"
机の上をきれいにそろえた。
I neatly arranged the things on the desk.
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: "机の上をきれいにそろえた。" (Meaning: "I neatly arranged the things on the desk.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "そろえる" fits here because it means "to make uniform, to arrange, to collect (all of something)" in the context of: "I neatly arranged the things on the desk.". "さわぐ" represents "to make noise, to be boisterous, to make a fuss".