Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
出す
だす (dasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
手間取る
てまどる (temadoru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 出す and 手間取る.
In Japanese, 出す (だす (dasu)) is typically associated with "to take out, to send, to submit" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents 中にあるものを外へ移動させるときや、手紙などを送るときに使います。Polite form is 出します.
On the other hand, 手間取る (てまどる (temadoru)) maps to "to take time, to be delayed, to be slow (due to difficulty or complications)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Implies that a task or process is taking longer than anticipated because of unexpected difficulties or complexities.. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "出す"
かばんから財布を出しました。
I took my wallet out of my bag.
Bilingual Context for "手間取る"
複雑な申請手続きで、予想以上に手間取ってしまった。
The complicated application process took longer than expected.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "かばんから財布を出しました。" (Meaning: "I took my wallet out of my bag.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "出す" fits here because it means "to take out, to send, to submit" in the context of: "I took my wallet out of my bag.". "手間取る" represents "to take time, to be delayed, to be slow (due to difficulty or complications)".