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
火に油を注ぐ
ひにあぶらをそそぐ (hiniaburawososogu)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "make" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 作ります and 火に油を注ぐ.
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, 火に油を注ぐ (ひにあぶらをそそぐ (hiniaburawososogu)) maps to "to make things worse" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. 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 "火に油を注ぐ"
毎日、日本語を練習するために火に油を注ぐ。
Every day, I make things worse to practice Japanese.
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.". "火に油を注ぐ" represents "to make things worse".