Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
持って行く
もっていく (motte iku)
N4 / 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 持って行く and 手間取る.
In Japanese, 持って行く (もっていく (motte iku)) is typically associated with "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。.
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 "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.
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: "お弁当を持って会社に行きます。" (Meaning: "I take my bento box to the office.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "持って行く" fits here because it means "to take (an object)" in the context of: "I take my bento box to the office.". "手間取る" represents "to take time, to be delayed, to be slow (due to difficulty or complications)".