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
持って行く
もっていく (motte iku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between だす and 持って行く.
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, 持って行く (もっていく (motte iku)) maps to "to take (an object)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Specifically for taking objects somewhere. For people/animals, use 連れて行く. 物を自分の手で移動させる。. 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 "持って行く"
お弁当を持って会社に行きます。
I take my bento box to the office.
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.". "持って行く" represents "to take (an object)".