Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "置く", "仕舞う", "揃える", "挟む"
All represent the core concept "put", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
置く
おく (oku)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
仕舞う
しまう (shimau)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
揃える
そろえる (soroeru)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
挟む
はさむ (hasamu)
B2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "put" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "置く", "仕舞う", "揃える", "挟む" based on context.
- 置く (おく (oku) - Level: N5): Maps to "to put, to place" and is used when 物をある場所に静かに置くときに使います。Polite form is 置きます.
- 仕舞う (しまう (shimau) - Level: N3): Maps to "to put away, to finish, to store, to close (a shop)" and is used when As a main verb, it primarily means to put something away in its designated place or to finish an activity/close a business. As an auxiliary verb.
- 揃える (そろえる (soroeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to put in order, to arrange, to make uniform, to gather (transitive)" and is used when Transitive verb. Refers to intentionally gathering, arranging, or making things uniform..
- 挟む (はさむ (hasamu) - Level: B2): Maps to "to put between, to pinch" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "置く"
テーブルの上に本を置きます。
I put the book on the table.
Context for "仕舞う"
使ったおもちゃを箱に仕舞った。
I put away the toys I used into the box.
Context for "揃える"
彼は机の上の書類をきれいに揃えた。
He neatly arranged the documents on the desk.
Context for "挟む"
毎日、日本語を練習するために挟む。
Every day, I put between, to pinch to practice Japanese.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "テーブルの上に本を置きます。" (Meaning: "I put the book on the table.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "置く" is correct here because it represents "to put, to place" in the context: "I put the book on the table.".