着く vs 到達する
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 着く
Listen to 到達する
| 着く | 到達する |
|---|---|
tsu-KU verb (intransitive, godan) | とうたつする (tōtatsu suru) verb (intransitive, godan) |
| to arrive (at a place); to reach | to reach; to attain (a goal, level, point, or destination, often abstract or quantitative) |
How they differ
到達する is used for reaching goals, milestones, numerical targets, or abstract endpoints and often carries a nuance of achievement or progress; 着く is more concrete and used for physically arriving at a place in everyday speech.
When to use each
When to use 着く: Prefer 着く for everyday, physical arrivals (people or vehicles arriving at a location).
When to use 到達する: Prefer 到達する when describing attainment of goals, reaching a particular stage/level, or in formal/written descriptions of progress or achievement.
Side-by-side examples
- 私たちはついに頂上に着いた。
(We finally arrived at the summit.) - 私たちはついに頂上に到達した。
(We finally reached/attained the summit.)
Register & nuance: 到達する is more formal/technical and often used in written, academic, or report-like contexts, while 着く is more colloquial for physical arrivals.