Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
もっていく
もっていく (motte iku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
連れていく
つれていく (tsureteiku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between もっていく and 連れていく.
In Japanese, もっていく (もっていく (motte iku)) is typically associated with "to take (something somewhere)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Implies moving an object away from the current location towards another. '持っていく.
On the other hand, 連れていく (つれていく (tsureteiku)) maps to "to take (someone), to bring (someone)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when taking or bringing a person or animal to a place. 「〜に人を連れていく」. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "もっていく"
明日、傘を持っていくのを忘れないでください。
Please don't forget to take your umbrella tomorrow.
Bilingual Context for "連れていく"
友達をパーティーに連れていきました。
I took my friend to the party.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "明日、傘を持っていくのを忘れないでください。" (Meaning: "Please don't forget to take your umbrella tomorrow.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "もっていく" fits here because it means "to take (something somewhere)" in the context of: "Please don't forget to take your umbrella tomorrow.". "連れていく" represents "to take (someone), to bring (someone)".