Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Throw" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "throw", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
倒す
たおす (taosu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
投げる
なげる (nageru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "throw" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 倒す and 投げる.
In Japanese, 倒す (たおす (taosu)) is typically associated with "to throw down, to knock over, to defeat" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Transitive verb. Can mean to cause something to fall over.
On the other hand, 投げる (なげる (nageru)) maps to "to throw" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Used for throwing objects. Can also be used metaphorically, e.g., 疑問を投げる. A literal translation of "throw" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "倒す"
風が強くて木が倒れてしまいました。
The wind was strong, and the tree fell over. (倒れる - intransitive. 倒す is transitive)
Bilingual Context for "投げる"
彼は野球のボールを高く投げました。
He threw the baseball high.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "風が強くて木が倒れてしまいました。" (Meaning: "The wind was strong, and the tree fell over. (倒れる - intransitive. 倒す is transitive)")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "倒す" fits here because it means "to throw down, to knock over, to defeat" in the context of: "The wind was strong, and the tree fell over. (倒れる - intransitive. 倒す is transitive)". "投げる" represents "to throw".