送る vs 届ける
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 送る
Listen to 届ける
| 送る | 届ける |
|---|---|
o-KU-ru verb (godan, transitive) | とどける verb (godan, transitive) |
| to send (something or someone); to dispatch; to escort (someone to a place) | to deliver; to bring something to its destination or hand it to the recipient |
How they differ
送る emphasizes the act of sending or dispatching (or escorting someone), while 届ける emphasizes the result — that the item actually reaches and is handed over to the recipient. 届ける often implies completion of delivery or the physical act of bringing something to a place.
When to use each
When to use 送る: Prefer 送る when focusing on the action of sending, dispatching, or escorting in a general or neutral way.
When to use 届ける: Prefer 届ける when you want to emphasize that the object arrived or was handed to the recipient (delivery completion).
Side-by-side examples
- 母にプレゼントを送ります。
(I'll send a present to my mother.) - 配達員が母の家にプレゼントを届けた。
(The delivery person delivered the present to my mother's house.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral in register; 届ける is slightly more result-oriented and common in delivery contexts.
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- See the Word of the Day entry for 届ける
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