Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
取り上げる
とりあげる (toriageru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
抱え込む
かかえこむ (kakaekomu)
B2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 取り上げる and 抱え込む.
In Japanese, 取り上げる (とりあげる (toriageru)) is typically associated with "to take up; to adopt; to confiscate; to deprive; to report (news); to pick up" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to confiscating items, adopting/proposing topics in discussions, reporting news in media, or physically picking something up. Transitive verb. Opposing word: 与える. Often used as 話題を取り上げる or おもちゃを取り上げる. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To take up/confiscate! "If I ever look at another girl, please pull my ears to confiscate my attention, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Confiscating your ears! B-Baka! Don't request such weirdly submissive punishments! But... if you ever look at another girl, I will really pull your ears and make you look only at me, so prepare yourself for life! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『とりあげる（取り上げる）よ！『ハルカ部長、僕が他の女の子を目で追ってたら、その両耳を優しく取り上げるように引っ張って叱ってください！』って…っ！耳を取り上げる！バカ！/// そんな変なMっぽいお仕置きを希望するんじゃないの！…でも、他の女を見てたら本当に耳を引っ張って私だけを見させるから、一生覚悟しなさいよね！』.
On the other hand, 抱え込む (かかえこむ (kakaekomu)) maps to "to take on (problems)" (Syllabus Level: B2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "取り上げる"
明日の全体進捗会議で、この深刻なシステム障害の再発防止策の議題をスマートに_______ことになりました。
It was decided to smartly take up the agenda of recurrence prevention measures for this severe system failure at tomorrow's general progress meeting.
Bilingual Context for "抱え込む"
毎日、日本語を練習するために抱え込む。
Every day, I take on (problems) to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "明日の全体進捗会議で、この深刻なシステム障害の再発防止策の議題をスマートに_______ことになりました。" (Meaning: "It was decided to smartly take up the agenda of recurrence prevention measures for this severe system failure at tomorrow's general progress meeting.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "取り上げる" fits here because it means "to take up; to adopt; to confiscate; to deprive; to report (news); to pick up" in the context of: "It was decided to smartly take up the agenda of recurrence prevention measures for this severe system failure at tomorrow's general progress meeting.". "抱え込む" represents "to take on (problems)".