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
降ろす
おろす (orosu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between もっていく and 降ろす.
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, 降ろす (おろす (orosu)) maps to "to take down, to lower, to unload, to drop off (a person)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Transitive verb. Used for lowering objects from a high place, unloading cargo, or letting someone get off a vehicle. 反対語は「上げる. 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 "降ろす"
駅で友達を降ろした。
I dropped off my friend at the station.
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.". "降ろす" represents "to take down, to lower, to unload, to drop off (a person)".