What is the difference between "もってくる", "連れてくる", "寄せる", "もたらす"?

"もってくる" means "to bring (something here)", "連れてくる" means "to bring (a person/animal); to take (a person/animal) along", "寄せる" means "to bring near, to gather, to move closer", "もたらす" means "to bring about, to cause, to result in, to introduce".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "もってくる", "連れてくる", "寄せる", "もたらす"

All represent the core concept "bring", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

もってくる

もってくる (motte kuru)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

連れてくる

つれてくる (tsurete kuru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

寄せる

よせる (yoseru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

もたらす

もたらす (motarasu)

N2 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "bring" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "もってくる", "連れてくる", "寄せる", "もたらす" based on context.

もってくる (もってくる (motte kuru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to bring (something here)" and is used when Implies moving an object from another location towards the current.
連れてくる (つれてくる (tsurete kuru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to bring (a person/animal); to take (a person/animal) along" and is used when 人や動物をある場所へ「一緒に」来ることを表します。「持ってくる.
寄せる (よせる (yoseru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to bring near, to gather, to move closer" and is used when 物理的に物や人を近づける、または考えや感情を集める場合によく使われます。例：車を路肩に寄せる、思いを寄せる。 / Often used for physically moving things or people closer, or for gathering abstract things like thoughts or feelings. E.g., to pull a car to the side of the road, to harbor feelings for someone..
もたらす (もたらす (motarasu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to bring about, to cause, to result in, to introduce" and is used when Often used for abstract things like results, effects, changes, or benefits/disadvantages. It's more formal than 持っていく. 例: 利益をもたらす.

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "もってくる"

ここにペンを持ってきてください。

Please bring a pen here.

Context for "連れてくる"

友達をパーティーに連れてきました。

I brought my friend to the party.

Context for "寄せる"

彼は窓から景色を見るために、椅子を窓際に寄せた。

He moved the chair closer to the window to see the view.

Context for "もたらす"

その新しい政策は社会に大きな変化をもたらした。

The new policy brought about significant changes in society.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "ここにペンを持ってきてください。" (Meaning: "Please bring a pen here.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "もってくる" is correct here because it represents "to bring (something here)" in the context: "Please bring a pen here.".