Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
散歩する
さんぽする (sanpo suru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
労する
ろうする (rōsuru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "take" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 散歩する and 労する.
In Japanese, 散歩する (さんぽする (sanpo suru)) is typically associated with "to take a walk" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Refers to a leisurely walk, often for relaxation or exercise. Often used with を.
On the other hand, 労する (ろうする (rōsuru)) maps to "to take pains; to labor; to make an effort" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe making a significant effort or expending much labor. Can imply difficulty.. A literal translation of "take" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "散歩する"
公園を犬と散歩するのが好きです。
I like walking in the park with my dog.
Bilingual Context for "労する"
この企画を成功させるために、彼は大いに労した。
He greatly labored to make this project successful.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "公園を犬と ＿＿＿ のが好きです。" (Meaning: "I like walking in the park with my dog.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "散歩する" fits here because it means "to take a walk" in the context of: "I like walking in the park with my dog.". "労する" represents "to take pains; to labor; to make an effort".