Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
だす
だす (dasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
取り戻す
とりもどす (torimodosu)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between だす and 取り戻す.
In Japanese, だす (だす (dasu)) is typically associated with "to take out, to put out, to send" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Transitive verb. Used for taking something out, sending mail, or submitting something..
On the other hand, 取り戻す (とりもどす (torimodosu)) maps to "to take back, to regain, to recover" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents 失ったものや奪われたものを再び自分のものにする、あるいは元の良い状態に戻す際に使います。/ Used when taking back something lost or stolen, or restoring something to its original good state.. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "だす"
ごみを外に出してください。
Please take out the trash.
Bilingual Context for "取り戻す"
盗まれた財布を取り戻した。
I got my stolen wallet back.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ごみを外に出してください。" (Meaning: "Please take out the trash.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "だす" fits here because it means "to take out, to put out, to send" in the context of: "Please take out the trash.". "取り戻す" represents "to take back, to regain, to recover".