What is the difference between "営む", "駆ける", "突き当たる", "こき下ろす", "右往左往"?

"営む" means "to run (a business), to operate, to carry on (a life/livelihood)", "駆ける" means "to run (quickly), to gallop, to dash", "突き当たる" means "to run into, to collide with", "こき下ろす" means "to run down, criticize", "右往左往" means "run about in confusion".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "営む", "駆ける", "突き当たる", "こき下ろす", "右往左往"

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

Japanese Option A

営む

いとなむ (itonamu)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

駆ける

かける (kakeru)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

突き当たる

つきあたる (tsukiataru)

B2 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

こき下ろす

こきおろす (kokiorosu)

C1 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

右往左往

うおうさおう (uousaou)

C1 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "run" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "営む", "駆ける", "突き当たる", "こき下ろす", "右往左往" based on context.

営む (いとなむ (itonamu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to run (a business), to operate, to carry on (a life/livelihood)" and is used when ビジネスや生活など、継続的な活動を行うことを表します。.
駆ける (かける (kakeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to run (quickly), to gallop, to dash" and is used when Implies running quickly or at a full dash, often with a sense of urgency or speed. More dynamic and emphasizes speed compared to 走る.
突き当たる (つきあたる (tsukiataru) - Level: B2): Maps to "to run into, to collide with" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
こき下ろす (こきおろす (kokiorosu) - Level: C1): Maps to "to run down, criticize" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..
右往左往 (うおうさおう (uousaou) - Level: C1): Maps to "run about in confusion" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..

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

Context for "営む"

父は小さなカフェを営んでいる。

My father runs a small cafe.

Context for "駆ける"

遅刻しそうだったので、駅まで全速力で駆けた。

I was about to be late, so I dashed to the station at full speed.

Context for "突き当たる"

毎日、日本語を練習するために突き当たる。

Every day, I run into, to collide with to practice Japanese.

Context for "こき下ろす"

毎日、日本語を練習するためにこき下ろす。

Every day, I run down, criticize to practice Japanese.

Context for "右往左往"

私は右往左往に興味があります。

I am interested in run about in confusion.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "父は小さなカフェを営んでいる。" (Meaning: "My father runs a small cafe.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "営む" is correct here because it represents "to run (a business), to operate, to carry on (a life/livelihood)" in the context: "My father runs a small cafe.".