着く vs 到着する
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 着く
Listen to 到着する
| 着く | 到着する |
|---|---|
tsu-KU verb (intransitive, godan) | とうちゃくする (tōchaku suru) verb (intransitive, godan) |
| to arrive (at a place); to reach | to arrive; to reach (often used for scheduled or announced arrivals) |
How they differ
到着する is more formal and is commonly used for scheduled arrivals (trains, flights, timetables, announcements) or in written language; 着く is the everyday intransitive verb used in casual speech for people or vehicles arriving at a place.
When to use each
When to use 着く: Prefer 着く when speaking casually about someone or something arriving at a place in conversation.
When to use 到着する: Prefer 到着する for timetables, public announcements, formal writing, or when stressing the event of arrival (e.g., flights/trains).
Side-by-side examples
- 彼は午後三時に東京に着きました。
(He arrived in Tokyo at 3:00 PM.) - 彼は午後三時に東京に到着しました。
(He arrived in Tokyo at 3:00 PM.)
Register & nuance: 到着する is more formal/written; 着く is neutral to casual and common in spoken Japanese.