Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Take" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "take", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
踏み切る
ふみきる (fumikiru)
N2 / 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 踏み切る and 手間取る.
In Japanese, 踏み切る (ふみきる (fumikiru)) is typically associated with "to take the plunge, to make a decision, to launch into something" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Used when someone finally decides to do something big or risky after hesitation. 迷いや躊躇の末に、大きな決断をする際に使われます。.
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 "踏み切る"
彼は長年の夢だった独立に踏み切った。
He finally took the plunge and became independent, which had been his long-cherished dream.
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: "彼は長年の夢だった独立に踏み切った。" (Meaning: "He finally took the plunge and became independent, which had been his long-cherished dream.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "踏み切る" fits here because it means "to take the plunge, to make a decision, to launch into something" in the context of: "He finally took the plunge and became independent, which had been his long-cherished dream.". "手間取る" represents "to take time, to be delayed, to be slow (due to difficulty or complications)".