Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Make" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "make", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
作ります
つくります (tsukurimasu)
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 作ります and 役立てる.
In Japanese, 作ります (つくります (tsukurimasu)) is typically associated with "to make, to produce" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Polite form of 作る. Used for making things, cooking food, or creating..
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 "作ります"
ケーキを作ります。
I make a cake.
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: "ケーキを ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I make a cake.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "作ります" fits here because it means "to make, to produce" in the context of: "I make a cake.". "役立てる" represents "to make use of, to put to good use, to utilize".