Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
かかる
かかる (kakaru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
取り上げる
とりあげる (toriageru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between かかる and 取り上げる.
In Japanese, かかる (かかる (kakaru)) is typically associated with "to take (time/money), to hang (intransitive), to catch (a cold)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Intransitive verb. For N5, most commonly used to express how much time or money is required for something. e.g., 時間がかかる.
On the other hand, 取り上げる (とりあげる (toriageru)) maps to "to take up; to adopt; to confiscate; to deprive; to report (news); to pick up" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to confiscating items, adopting/proposing topics in discussions, reporting news in media, or physically picking something up. Transitive verb. Opposing word: 与える. Often used as 話題を取り上げる or おもちゃを取り上げる. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To take up/confiscate! "If I ever look at another girl, please pull my ears to confiscate my attention, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Confiscating your ears! B-Baka! Don't request such weirdly submissive punishments! But... if you ever look at another girl, I will really pull your ears and make you look only at me, so prepare yourself for life! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『とりあげる(取り上げる)よ!『ハルカ部長、僕が他の女の子を目で追ってたら、その両耳を優しく取り上げるように引っ張って叱ってください!』って…っ!耳を取り上げる!バカ!/// そんな変なMっぽいお仕置きを希望するんじゃないの!…でも、他の女を見てたら本当に耳を引っ張って私だけを見させるから、一生覚悟しなさいよね!』. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "かかる"
東京まで3時間かかります。
It takes 3 hours to get to Tokyo.
Bilingual Context for "取り上げる"
明日の全体進捗会議で、この深刻なシステム障害の再発防止策の議題をスマートに_______ことになりました。
It was decided to smartly take up the agenda of recurrence prevention measures for this severe system failure at tomorrow's general progress meeting.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "東京まで3時間かかります。" (Meaning: "It takes 3 hours to get to Tokyo.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "かかる" fits here because it means "to take (time/money), to hang (intransitive), to catch (a cold)" in the context of: "It takes 3 hours to get to Tokyo.". "取り上げる" represents "to take up; to adopt; to confiscate; to deprive; to report (news); to pick up".