Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Visit" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "visit", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
訪ねる
たずねる (tazuneru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
伺う
うかがう (ukagau)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "visit" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 訪ねる and 伺う.
In Japanese, 訪ねる (たずねる (tazuneru)) is typically associated with "to visit (a place or person), to call on" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A more formal or polite way to say "to visit" compared to 行く.
On the other hand, 伺う (うかがう (ukagau)) maps to "1. to visit (humble) 2. to ask, to hear (humble)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents 謙譲語（けんじょうご）。「行く」「訪ねる」または「聞く」の謙譲語です。相手への敬意を表す際に使います。Humble form of 行く. A literal translation of "visit" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "訪ねる"
週末に友達の家を訪ねました。
I visited my friend's house on the weekend.
Bilingual Context for "伺う"
明日、先生のお宅に伺います。
I will visit my teacher's house tomorrow.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "週末に友達の家を訪ねました。" (Meaning: "I visited my friend's house on the weekend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "訪ねる" fits here because it means "to visit (a place or person), to call on" in the context of: "I visited my friend's house on the weekend.". "伺う" represents "1. to visit (humble) 2. to ask, to hear (humble)".