Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Visit" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "visit", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
訪問する
ほうもんする (houmon suru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
うかがう
うかがう (ukagau)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "visit" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 訪問する and うかがう.
In Japanese, 訪問する (ほうもんする (houmon suru)) is typically associated with "to visit; to call on; to pay a visit" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to formally visiting a business client, calling on a friend's house, paying a visit to a historical landmark, or database page-crawling visits. Transitive verb. Often used as 顧客を訪問する or サイトを訪問する. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To visit/call on! "I will smartly welcome you as the most beautiful princess when you visit our new sweet love castle, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Greeted as a princess! B-Baka! Who said anything about building a castle-like home! But... I will gladly visit and stay in our sweet dream home with you forever! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『ほうもんする（訪問する）よ！『ハルカ部長、将来の僕たちのスマートな二人の愛の新居（お城）へ、一番のお姫様としてお迎えして訪問する（訪問します）！』って…っ！新居へ訪問！バカ！/// 誰がお城みたいな新居を建てるって言ったのよ！…でも、あんたと私の甘々マイホームなら、一生笑顔で喜んで訪問して住み続けるわ！』.
On the other hand, うかがう (うかがう (ukagau)) maps to "to visit, to ask, to hear (humble)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents 謙譲語. A literal translation of "visit" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "訪問する"
新規開発システムの要件定義の最終合意を行うため、彼は午後からスマートに重要な顧客企業を_______ました。
In order to reach the final agreement on the requirements definition of the new development system, he smartly visited the important client enterprise in the afternoon.
Bilingual Context for "うかがう"
明日、先生のお宅にうかがいます。
I will visit the teacher's house tomorrow.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "新規開発システムの要件定義の最終合意を行うため、彼は午後からスマートに重要な顧客企業を_______ました。" (Meaning: "In order to reach the final agreement on the requirements definition of the new development system, he smartly visited the important client enterprise in the afternoon.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "訪問する" fits here because it means "to visit; to call on; to pay a visit" in the context of: "In order to reach the final agreement on the requirements definition of the new development system, he smartly visited the important client enterprise in the afternoon.". "うかがう" represents "to visit, to ask, to hear (humble)".