Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "あげます", "あげる", "差し上げる", "譲る", "与える"
All represent the core concept "give", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
あげます
あげます (agemasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
あげる
あげる (ageru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
差し上げる
さしあげる (sashiageru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
譲る
ゆずる (yuzuru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
与える
あたえる (ataeru)
N3 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "give" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "あげます", "あげる", "差し上げる", "譲る", "与える" based on context.
- あげます (あげます (agemasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to give" and is used when Used when the giver.
- あげる (あげる (ageru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to give (to someone else)" and is used when Used when the speaker or someone else gives something to another person/thing. Direction: giver → receiver.
- 差し上げる (さしあげる (sashiageru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to give (humble form of あげる)" and is used when Humble form of あげる.
- 譲る (ゆずる (yuzuru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to give way, to hand over, to concede, to yield" and is used when Implies giving something.
- 与える (あたえる (ataeru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to give; to grant; to cause; to impact" and is used when Refers to giving/granting opportunities, awards, causing impacts.
Context for "あげます"
友達にプレゼントをあげました。
I gave a present to my friend.
Context for "あげる"
友達にプレゼントをあげます。
I give a present to my friend.
Context for "差し上げる"
先生にお土産を差し上げました。
I gave a souvenir to my teacher.
Context for "譲る"
電車ではお年寄りに席を譲りましょう。
On the train, let's give up our seats to the elderly.
Context for "与える"
彼の卓越した技術的リーダーシップは、若手のエンジニアたちに多大な好影響を_______、チームの士気を高めました。
His outstanding technical leadership gave a great positive impact to the young engineers and raised the morale of the team.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達にプレゼントをあげました。" (Meaning: "I gave a present to my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "あげます" is correct here because it represents "to give" in the context: "I gave a present to my friend.".