送る vs 見送る
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 送る
Listen to 見送る
| 送る | 見送る |
|---|---|
o-KU-ru verb (godan, transitive) | みおくる verb (godan, transitive) |
| to send (something or someone); to dispatch; to escort (someone to a place) | to see someone off; to accompany someone to a departure point and say goodbye |
How they differ
When 送る means 'to escort' someone, it can imply giving them a ride or accompanying them; 見送る specifically conveys 'seeing off' — accompanying someone to a departure point and bidding them farewell, often with an emotional nuance and not necessarily escorting them the whole way.
When to use each
When to use 送る: Prefer 送る when the emphasis is on physically escorting or transporting someone (e.g., giving someone a ride) or when speaking broadly about sending.
When to use 見送る: Prefer 見送る when you mean 'to see someone off' at a station/airport or to emphasize the farewell aspect.
Side-by-side examples
- 友達を駅まで送った。
(I took my friend to the station.) - 友達を駅まで見送った。
(I saw my friend off at the station.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral; 見送る is specific to farewells and often carries a slightly emotional or situational nuance.