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引き取る

B1 verb 10분 분량

引き取る

hikitoru

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 引き取る 30초 만에

설명 引き取る in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'hikitoru' often, but you might see it on signs or hear it at airports. Think of it as a special way to say 'get my bag.' When you arrive in Japan and go to the 'Baggage Claim,' the action you are doing is 'hikitoru.' It is a combination of 'hiku' (pull) and 'toru' (take). Imagine pulling your heavy suitcase off the moving belt—that's the 'hiku' part! At this level, just remember it as 'to pick up my things from a place.' It is very useful for travel. You might also see it in simple stories about animals, where someone 'takes in' a lost kitten. Even if you can't conjugate it perfectly yet, recognizing the kanji 引 (pull) and 取 (take) will help you understand that something is being moved from a counter or a station back to a person.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

For A2 learners, 'hikitoru' becomes useful when talking about daily errands. If you go to a convenience store to pick up a package you ordered online (though '受け取る' is also used), or if you go to a repair shop to get your bicycle, 'hikitoru' is the correct formal term for the handover. You should learn the basic polite form: 'hikitorimasu.' At this level, you can start to distinguish it from 'kau' (to buy). When you 'hikitoru' something, you aren't paying for it right then as a new purchase; you are collecting something that belongs to you or was waiting for you. For example, 'Shuuri ga owatta kutsu o hikitorimasu' (I will pick up the shoes that are finished being repaired). It's all about retrieving items.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B1 level, you should master the various nuances of 'hikitoru.' This includes not only physical objects but also taking responsibility for living things. This is the level where you use 'hikitoru' to talk about adopting a pet from a shelter or taking in a relative. You should also be aware of the noun form 'hikitori,' which you will see on official forms for lost property or recycling services. You should understand the difference between 'hikitoru' and 'uketoru' (receiving). 'Hikitoru' implies you are going to the location to claim what is yours. You will also encounter the passive 'hikitorareru' in news stories, such as when a lost child is 'taken in' by their parents. This verb is essential for navigating administrative tasks in Japan, like dealing with the police for a lost item or arranging for a large trash pickup.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the more formal and idiomatic uses of 'hikitoru.' This includes the euphemism for death: 'iki o hikitoru' (to take one's last breath). You should be able to use the verb in business contexts, such as 'fuyouhin no hikitori' (collection of unwanted items) when negotiating contracts or services. You should also understand the nuance of 'withdrawing' from a place in formal settings, though this is less common in modern speech. B2 learners should be able to explain the difference between 'hikitoru' and 'kaishuu' (systematic collection/recall). You should also be able to use the causative and humble forms in professional communication, such as 'o-hikitori-negai-masu' (asking someone to step away or withdraw politely).

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

C1 learners must appreciate the deep cultural and legal implications of 'hikitoru.' It appears in legal documents regarding the custody of minors or the reclamation of impounded property. You should understand how the word functions in literary contexts, where it might describe a character 'taking back' a promise or 'withdrawing' from a social circle. The nuance of 'taking responsibility' is paramount here; it's not just a physical act but a transfer of liability. You should be able to use it fluently in discussions about social issues, such as the 'hikitori-te' (the person who takes someone/something in) in the context of Japan's aging society or animal welfare laws. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's weight in different social registers.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'hikitoru' across all its historical and modern applications. You can distinguish the subtle differences between 'hikitoru' and archaic terms like 'shirizoku' in classical literature. You understand the bureaucratic precision of the word in government white papers regarding 'butsuryuu' (logistics) and 'haikibutsu' (waste). You can use the word metaphorically in high-level discourse, and you are fully aware of the emotional gravity of the phrase 'iki o hikitoru' in literature and film. Your mastery includes the ability to use the word in complex causative-passive structures and to understand its role in the etymological development of Japanese compound verbs. You can effortlessly switch between the mundane 'picking up luggage' and the profound 'taking in a life' without losing the appropriate tone.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

引き取る 30초 만에

Used for picking up items from a counter, airport, or lost and found.
Used for taking in/adopting pets or people into your care.
Commonly seen as a noun 'hikitori' on official forms and signs.
Includes the sensitive idiom 'iki o hikitoru' meaning to pass away.

The Japanese verb 引き取る (hikitoru) is a multifaceted term that primarily translates to "to pick up," "to collect," or "to take charge of." At its linguistic core, it is a compound verb consisting of hiku (to pull) and toru (to take). This combination implies an action where one reaches out to bring something back into their own possession or care. While English speakers might use "pick up" for everything from a pencil on the floor to a child at school, hikitoru carries a specific nuance of reclaiming something that was temporarily elsewhere or taking responsibility for something that requires a guardian. It is most commonly encountered in administrative, logistical, and social contexts where ownership or custody is transferred.

Reclaiming Goods: This is the most frequent use. You use it when you go to a lost-and-found office to get your wallet, pick up your luggage from an airport carousel, or collect a repaired item from a shop. It suggests that the item already belongs to you or is designated for you.

空港で預けた荷物を引き取るために、バゲージクレームへ向かった。

Translation: I headed to baggage claim to pick up the luggage I had checked in.

Taking Custody: In a social sense, hikitoru refers to taking a person or an animal into one's care. This is the standard term for adopting a pet from a shelter or taking in a relative who can no longer live alone. It implies a long-term commitment to care for the entity being 'taken'.

Furthermore, the word has a formal use in the context of leaving a place. When a guest "withdraws" or "takes their leave" after a formal meeting, they might use the phrase sagaru or hikitoru. However, in modern daily Japanese, the "collecting items" and "taking in pets/people" meanings are far more prevalent. Understanding hikitoru requires recognizing the transition of responsibility; once you 'hikitoru' something, it is now in your hands and your duty. This is why you hear it so often at police stations (collecting a lost item) or at pet shelters. It is a word of transition, moving an object or being from a temporary holding state back to its rightful or new permanent home.

保護猫を新しい家族として引き取ることに決めた。

Translation: I decided to take in a rescued cat as a new member of the family.

In a more somber context, the phrase iki o hikitoru (to take one's last breath) is the standard polite way to say someone has passed away. Here, the 'breath' is being 'taken back' by the universe or divine, signaling the end of life. This demonstrates the depth of the verb beyond just picking up a suitcase. It is about the finality of taking something back to where it belongs or where it must now reside.

Grammatically, 引き取る (hikitoru) is a transitive verb that typically takes the particle を (o) to mark the object being collected or taken in. Because it is a Godan verb (Type I), it conjugates regularly. Understanding the situational flow is key: there is usually a prerequisite state where the object is being held by someone else (a shop, a shelter, the police, or an airport) before the subject performs the act of hikitoru.

The 'Collect' Pattern: [Location] で [Object] を引き取る. For example: 駅の遺失物係で傘を引き取った (I picked up my umbrella at the station's lost and found). This pattern is used for physical objects that you already own but were temporarily out of your possession.

修理が終わったパソコンを店に引き取りに行く。

Translation: I am going to the shop to pick up the laptop that has been repaired.

The 'Custody' Pattern: [Entity] を引き取る. This is used for pets or people. Unlike 'tsurete iku' (to take someone along), 'hikitoru' implies a transfer of legal or moral responsibility. If you 'hikitoru' a child from a police station, it means you are the guardian taking them home.

The verb is also frequently used in its noun form, 引き取り (hikitori). You will see this on forms or signs, such as hikitori-genryo (collection deadline) or hikitori-tesuryo (collection fee). In the context of e-commerce, if you buy a new refrigerator and the company takes away your old one, this is called furui reizoko no hikitori. Here, the company is 'taking back' the old item as part of the service.

この商品は、店頭での引き取りのみ可能です。

Translation: This product is only available for in-store pickup.

In formal settings, the humble version o-hikitori-negai-masu is used to ask someone to leave or withdraw. While this might sound harsh in English ("Please leave"), in Japanese, it is a polite way to signal the end of a session or to ask someone to step back from a situation. However, for B1 learners, focusing on the "collecting" and "adopting" aspects will cover 90% of daily interactions. Always remember that hikitoru involves a transition of care or possession from one party to another.

You will encounter 引き取る (hikitoru) in several very specific real-world locations in Japan. One of the most common is the ishitsubutsu-kakari (Lost and Found office). If you lose your umbrella on a JR train and they find it, the staff will tell you to come to a specific station to hikitoru it. This is the official term used in paperwork and by staff members. They won't usually say 'toru' or 'morau' because those don't capture the formal return of property.

At the Airport: Announcements often use this word. "Please pick up your checked baggage promptly" translates to "Azuketa nimotsu o sumiyaka ni o-hikitori kudasai." It is the standard term for retrieving items from storage or transit.

お手荷物は、到着ロビーのターンテーブルで引き取ってください。

Translation: Please collect your hand luggage at the turntable in the arrival lobby.

Animal Shelters (Hogo-ken/Hogo-neko): When discussing animal welfare, hikitoru is the ethical choice of words. It describes the act of taking an animal from a shelter to your home. It contrasts with 'kau' (to keep/buy) by highlighting the act of rescue and responsibility transfer.

In television dramas or news reports, you might hear it in more serious contexts. For instance, if a minor is detained by the police for a curfew violation, the police will call the parents to hikitoru the child. In this scenario, it means the parents are officially taking the child back into their custody. Similarly, in medical dramas, you will almost certainly hear the phrase iki o hikitorimashita (he/she has passed away), which is the standard euphemism for death, literally meaning "took their last breath."

祖父は家族に見守られながら、静かに息を引き取った。

Translation: My grandfather passed away quietly, surrounded by his family.

Finally, in the world of recycling and waste management, hikitori is used for the collection of large items (sodai-gomi). When you arrange for a city service to take away an old sofa, they are performing a hikitori service. This covers the entire spectrum from precious family members to unwanted junk—the common thread is the movement of the object from one party's space or responsibility to another's.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with 引き取る (hikitoru) is using it as a general synonym for "to pick up" in situations where hirou (to pick up from the ground) or mukae ni iku (to go meet someone) is required. For example, if you drop your pen and pick it up, you MUST use hirou. Using hikitoru in that context would sound as if the pen was in someone else's legal custody and you were reclaiming it officially.

Hikitoru vs. Uketoru: This is the most confusing pair. Uketoru means to 'receive' something (like a letter or a gift). Hikitoru means to 'collect' something that you are responsible for or that was yours. If a delivery driver hands you a package at your door, you uketoru it. If you go to the post office to get a package they were holding for you, you hikitoru it.

❌ 床に落ちたゴミを引き取る。
✅ 床に落ちたゴミを拾う (hirou).

Mistake: Using 'hikitoru' for picking up trash from the floor.

Confusing with Shopping: You don't hikitoru groceries at a supermarket unless you previously ordered them and are just collecting the bag. For normal shopping, use kau (buy). Hikitoru implies the item was already 'set aside' or 'waiting' for you.

Another nuance is the social weight. If you say you are going to hikitoru your friend from the airport, it sounds like your friend was in trouble or was being held by customs. Use mukae ni iku (go to meet/pick up) for social situations. Use hikitoru only if there is a formal handover of the person or their belongings involved. Misusing this can make a friendly gesture sound like a legal transaction.

❌ 友達を駅で引き取る。
✅ 友達を駅まで迎えに行く。

Mistake: Using 'hikitoru' for meeting a friend at the station.

Lastly, remember the specific idiom iki o hikitoru. Do not use hikitoru for 'taking a breath' (like a deep breath before swimming). For that, use iki o suu. Iki o hikitoru is strictly for the moment of death. Mixing these up could lead to very awkward or distressing misunderstandings in a medical or sensitive environment.

Japanese has many words for "taking," "receiving," and "collecting." Choosing the right one depends on the direction of the object and the level of responsibility. Here is how 引き取る (hikitoru) compares to its closest neighbors.

引き取る vs. 受け取る (Uketoru): As mentioned, uketoru is the general word for 'receiving' something handed to you. Hikitoru is specifically 'collecting' something that was being held for you or is your responsibility.
Example: You uketoru a flyer on the street, but you hikitoru your dry cleaning.

引き取る vs. 預かる (Azukaru): These are opposites. Azukaru means 'to look after' or 'to keep' something for someone else. When you give your coat to a cloakroom, the staff azukaru it. When you go back to get it, you hikitoru it. They are two halves of the same transaction.

荷物を預ける (Leave luggage) ↔ 荷物を引き取る (Collect luggage).

引き取る vs. 回収する (Kaishuu suru): Kaishuu suru is a more technical term for 'collecting' or 'retrieving' items on a large scale, like recycling or a product recall. While you might hikitoru a single old TV, a company will kaishuu thousands of defective batteries. Kaishuu feels more clinical and systematic.

In the context of 'leaving,' alternatives include kaeru (to go home) or taishitsu suru (to leave the room). Hikitoru in this sense is quite old-fashioned or very formal. In modern business, you'd likely hear shitsurei shimasu when someone leaves. Finally, for 'picking up' someone by car, always prefer pick-up suru (katakana) or mukae ni iku unless you are performing a formal custody transfer. By distinguishing these nuances, you can avoid sounding like a lawyer when you're just trying to be a helpful friend.

リサイクルショップが古い家具を引き取ってくれた。

Translation: The thrift shop took/collected the old furniture for me.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The phrase for dying, 'iki o hikitoru,' reflects an ancient belief that breath is a gift from the gods that is 'taken back' at the end of life.

발음 가이드

UK çi.ki.to.ɾɯ

US çi.ki.to.ɾu

Atamadaka (Type 0/Heiban) - The pitch starts low on 'hi' and stays high for the rest of the word.

라임이 맞는 단어

kikitoru (to hear) kakitoru (to write down) uketoru (to receive) yomitoru (to read/interpret) ukitoru (rare) sakitoru (rare) makitoru (to wind up) toru (to take)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'hi' as 'hee' with too much air.
Pronouncing 'ru' like the English 'roo'.
Confusing 'hi' (ひ) with 'ki' (き).
Incorrect pitch accent (dropping the pitch on 'ru').
Stressing the 'to' syllable too heavily.

난이도

독해 3/5

Kanji are common but the compound nature requires knowing both.

쓰기 3/5

Both 引 and 取 are taught early in school.

말하기 4/5

Nuance is tricky; easy to confuse with 'hirou' or 'mukae ni iku'.

듣기 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but sounds like 'kikitoru'.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

引く (To pull) 取る (To take) 受け取る (To receive) 荷物 (Luggage) 預ける (To deposit)

다음에 배울 것

引き受ける (To take on/accept) 引き返す (To turn back) 引き出す (To pull out/withdraw money) 引き止める (To restrain/stop) 身元 (Identity)

고급

収受 (Official receipt) 譲渡 (Transfer of ownership) 看取る (To care for in final moments) 撤回 (Withdrawal of statement)

알아야 할 문법

Compound Verbs (Fukugo-doshi)

引く + 取る = 引き取る

Transitive vs. Intransitive

～を引き取る (Transitive)

Humble/Honorific Forms

お引き取り願う (Humble/Polite request to leave)

Noun Conversion (V-stem)

引き取り (Noun form)

Passive Usage

叔父に引き取られる (To be taken in by one's uncle)

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

駅でカバンを引き取ります。

I will pick up my bag at the station.

引き取ります is the polite form of 引き取る.

空港で荷物を引き取った。

I picked up my luggage at the airport.

引き取った is the past tense.

ここで荷物を引き取ってください。

Please pick up your luggage here.

～てください is used for making a request.

犬を引き取りたいです。

I want to take in/adopt a dog.

～たいです expresses desire.

忘れ物を引き取りに行きます。

I am going to pick up something I left behind.

V-stem + に行きます means 'go to do something'.

お父さんが荷物を引き取った。

My father picked up the luggage.

引き取った marks the completed action.

カードを引き取りましたか？

Did you collect your card?

Question form of the polite past tense.

猫を引き取って、家へ帰りました。

I took in the cat and went home.

The -te form connects two actions.

修理した時計を引き取りに行った。

I went to pick up the watch that was repaired.

修理した modifies 時計 (the watch that was repaired).

クリーニングを引き取るのを忘れた。

I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning.

～のを忘れた means 'forgot to do'.

警察署で自転車を引き取った。

I picked up my bicycle at the police station.

で marks the location of the action.

この荷物は明日引き取ります。

I will pick up this luggage tomorrow.

Future/habitual use of the non-past form.

預けていた鍵を引き取った。

I collected the keys I had left with them.

預けていた means 'was leaving/storing'.

店で注文した品を引き取った。

I picked up the item I ordered at the store.

注文した modifies 品 (item).

荷物の引き取りには身分証が必要です。

An ID is required to pick up the luggage.

引き取り is used here as a noun.

どこで荷物を引き取ればいいですか？

Where should I pick up my luggage?

～ばいいですか is used to ask for advice/instructions.

彼は保健所から保護犬を引き取った。

He took in a rescued dog from the animal shelter.

から marks the source/origin.

遺失物センターで財布を引き取る手続きをした。

I went through the procedure to collect my wallet at the lost property center.

手続きをする means 'to do the paperwork/procedure'.

新しい冷蔵庫を買ったので、古いのを引き取ってもらった。

I bought a new fridge, so I had them take away the old one.

～てもらう indicates receiving a favor.

両親がいない間、叔父が私を引き取ってくれた。

While my parents were away, my uncle took me in.

～てくれる indicates someone did something for the speaker.

空港のカウンターで預け荷物を引き取るのに時間がかかった。

It took time to collect my checked luggage at the airport counter.

～のに時間がかかる means 'it takes time to...'

身元が確認されたので、子供を警察から引き取った。

Since the identity was confirmed, I picked up the child from the police.

～ので expresses a reason/cause.

店での引き取り期限は一週間です。

The deadline for in-store pickup is one week.

引き取り期限 is a compound noun.

彼はその仕事を前の担当者から引き取った。

He took over the job from the previous person in charge.

Metaphorical use for taking over responsibility.

祖父は昨夜、静かに息を引き取りました。

My grandfather passed away quietly last night.

息を引き取る is a fixed idiom for dying.

不用品の引き取りサービスを利用することにした。

I decided to use a collection service for unwanted items.

～することにした means 'decided to do'.

身寄りのない老人を施設が引き取ることになった。

It was decided that the facility would take in the elderly person with no relatives.

～ことになった means 'it has been decided (by circumstances)'.

裁判所は、母親が子供を引き取るべきだと判断した。

The court ruled that the mother should take custody of the child.

～べきだ expresses obligation or strong recommendation.

彼はその場を静かに引き取った。

He quietly withdrew from the scene.

Formal use meaning 'to leave' or 'to withdraw'.

注文した商品の店頭引き取りを指定した。

I specified in-store pickup for the ordered product.

店頭引き取り is a common retail term.

警察は、飼い主が犬を引き取るよう命じた。

The police ordered the owner to collect the dog.

～よう命じた means 'ordered to do'.

彼は親戚の借金を引き取る覚悟をした。

He prepared himself to take over his relative's debt.

引き取る here means taking on a burden or debt.

その孤児は遠い親戚に引き取られることになった。

The orphan was to be taken in by a distant relative.

Passive form: 引き取られる.

彼は自分の発言を引き取るつもりはないと言い張った。

He insisted that he had no intention of withdrawing his statement.

Abstract use: withdrawing a statement or promise.

遺体を引き取るために、遺族が病院に集まった。

The bereaved family gathered at the hospital to claim the body.

Sensitive usage for claiming remains.

自治体は放置自転車の引き取りを強化している。

The local government is strengthening the collection of abandoned bicycles.

Official administrative context.

彼女は苦労を一人で引き取る癖がある。

She has a habit of taking all the hardships upon herself.

Metaphorical use for taking on burdens.

その会社は、リコール対象製品の引き取りを無償で行っている。

The company is collecting recalled products free of charge.

Business/Corporate context for recalls.

彼は長年連れ添った妻の最期を看取り、息を引き取る瞬間に立ち会った。

He cared for his wife of many years in her final moments and was present when she took her last breath.

Highly formal and emotional literary style.

この件に関しては、私が責任を引き取ることにします。

Regarding this matter, I will take full responsibility.

Professional usage for assuming responsibility.

国家間の合意に基づき、捕虜が引き取られた。

Based on the agreement between the nations, the prisoners of war were handed over/collected.

High-level diplomatic/political context.

彼は師匠の遺志を引き取り、伝統を守り続ける決意をした。

He took up his master's dying wish and resolved to continue protecting the tradition.

Metaphorical/Philosophical use of taking over a legacy.

その法案は、反対派の強い圧力により引き取られる形となった。

The bill ended up being withdrawn due to strong pressure from the opposition.

Political context for withdrawing a bill or proposal.

彼女は数奇な運命を引き取り、力強く生きていった。

She accepted her strange fate and lived on with strength.

Literary use for 'accepting' or 'taking on' a destiny.

行政代執行により、建物内の物品が引き取られた。

Items inside the building were removed/collected through administrative execution.

Complex legal and administrative terminology.

その地域の歴史的な遺物を博物館が引き取り、一般公開した。

The museum took in the local historical artifacts and opened them to the public.

Formal context for institutional acquisition.

彼は世俗のしがらみを引き取り、山奥での隠遁生活に入った。

He left behind (withdrew from) the ties of the secular world and entered a life of seclusion deep in the mountains.

Archaic/Literary nuance of withdrawing from society.

この契約における引き取り条件は、国際法に準拠するものとする。

The collection conditions in this contract shall comply with international law.

Formal legal contractual language.

자주 쓰는 조합

荷物を引き取る

息を引き取る

身柄を引き取る

猫を引き取る

責任を引き取る

店頭で引き取る

落とし物を引き取る

遺体を引き取る

子供を引き取る

不用品を引き取る

자주 쓰는 구문

お引き取りください

— A polite but firm way to ask someone to leave or go away.

本日はこれでお引き取りください。

引き取り手

— The person who takes something/someone in; a claimant or guardian.

その犬には引き取り手が見つかった。

引き取り期限

— The deadline by which one must collect an item.

引き取り期限を過ぎると処分されます。

引き取り価格

— The price at which a shop will buy back or take in an old item.

古い車の引き取り価格を調べる。

引き取り連絡

— A notification that an item is ready to be collected.

修理完了の引き取り連絡が来た。

店頭引き取り

— In-store pickup (often for online orders).

店頭引き取りなら送料が無料だ。

遺失物引き取り

— Collecting lost property.

遺失物引き取りには印鑑が必要です。

責任を引き取る

— To take the blame or assume the burden of a situation.

リーダーが責任を引き取って辞任した。

身元引き取り人

— A guarantor or person who takes custody of someone (e.g., from police).

身元引き取り人が来るまで帰れません。

ゴミの引き取り

— Garbage collection (usually large or special items).

粗大ゴミの引き取りを依頼する。

자주 혼동되는 단어

引き取る vs 聞き取る (kikitoru)

Means to catch/hear what someone says. Sounds very similar.

引き取る vs 受け取る (uketoru)

Means to receive. Hikitoru is more about 'collecting' what is yours/your duty.

引き取る vs 拾う (hirou)

Means to pick up something from the ground. Hikitoru is from a person/office.

관용어 및 표현

"息を引き取る"

— To die; to take one's last breath.

彼は家族に囲まれて息を引き取った。

Polite/Formal

"身柄を引き取る"

— To take a person into custody or take them home from a police station.

親が子供の身柄を引き取った。

Legal

"話を引き取る"

— To take over a conversation or pick up where someone left off.

私が話を引き取って説明を続けた。

Neutral

"その場を引き取る"

— To take one's leave or withdraw from a specific place/situation.

彼は一礼してその場を引き取った。

Formal

"厄介を引き取る"

— To take on a troublesome task or person.

彼は進んで厄介を引き取った。

Neutral

"後を引き取る"

— To take over what remains of a task or legacy.

彼が父の後を引き取って店を継いだ。

Neutral

"言葉を引き取る"

— To respond immediately to someone's words; to pick up the thread.

彼女は彼の言葉を引き取って、こう言った。

Literary

"貧乏くじを引き取る"

— To end up with the worst part of a deal (metaphorical).

結局、僕が貧乏くじを引き取ることになった。

Informal

"面倒を引き取る"

— To take care of a difficult situation or person.

親戚の面倒を引き取ることにした。

Neutral

"一歩引き取る"

— To step back or withdraw slightly from a position.

ここは一歩引き取って様子を見よう。

Neutral

혼동하기 쉬운

引き取る vs 受け取る

Both involve getting an item.

Uketoru is receiving (passive/general). Hikitoru is collecting (active/responsibility).

荷物を受け取る (Receive a delivery) vs 荷物を引き取る (Collect from a depot).

引き取る vs 迎えに行く

Both translate to 'pick up' in English.

Mukae ni iku is for social meetings. Hikitoru is for formal custody/collection.

友達を迎えに行く (Pick up a friend) vs 迷子を引き取る (Collect a lost child).

引き取る vs 預かる

It's the other side of the transaction.

Azukaru is to hold/keep for someone. Hikitoru is to take back from someone.

店が荷物を預かる (Shop keeps bag) -> 客が荷物を引き取る (Guest collects bag).

引き取る vs 回収する

Both mean 'collect'.

Kaishuu is systematic/large scale (recycling). Hikitoru is personal/specific.

ゴミを回収する (Collect trash) vs 修理品を引き取る (Collect repaired item).

引き取る vs 引き受ける

Both start with 'hiki' and involve taking something.

Hikiukeru is taking on a task/job. Hikitoru is taking possession of an object/being.

仕事を引き受ける (Accept a job) vs 猫を引き取る (Adopt a cat).

문장 패턴

[Object] を引き取ります。

荷物を引き取ります。

[Place] で [Object] を引き取った。

店で時計を引き取った。

[Object] を引き取りに行く。

忘れ物を引き取りに行く。

[Animal/Person] を引き取る。

猫を引き取る。

息を引き取る。

祖母が息を引き取った。

～に引き取られる。

親戚に引き取られる。

[Responsibility] を引き取る。

責任を引き取る。

[Abstract] を引き取る。

発言を引き取る。

어휘 가족

명사

引き取り (Collection/Pickup)

引き取り手 (Claimant/Adopter)

引き取り人 (Guarantor)

引き取り所 (Pickup point)

동사

引く (To pull)

取る (To take)

引き受ける (To take on)

聞き取る (To catch/hear)

사용법

frequency

High in logistics, administrative, and pet-related contexts.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'hikitoru' to mean 'to understand/hear'. → 聞き取る (kikitoru)
These sound very similar. 'Hikitoru' is about physical collection; 'kikitoru' is about auditory comprehension.
Using 'hikitoru' for picking up a person socially. → 迎えに行く (mukae ni iku)
Using 'hikitoru' for a friend makes it sound like they are property or in legal trouble.
Using 'hikitoru' for picking up a dropped item. → 拾う (hirou)
'Hikitoru' implies the item was in someone's care. If it's on the ground, use 'hirou'.
Using 'hikitoru' for receiving a gift. → 受け取る (uketoru) / もらう (morau)
'Hikitoru' is for collecting what is yours or your duty, not for receiving a new gift.
Using 'hikitoru' for taking a breath. → 息を吸う (iki o suu)
'Iki o hikitoru' is only for the very last breath of life (dying). For breathing normally, use 'suu'.

팁

Travel Tip

At Japanese airports, look for the sign '手荷物引き取り所' (Baggage Claim). This is where you collect your bags.

Compound Verb Logic

Remember that compound verbs starting with 'hiki-' often imply a movement toward the subject (like 'pulling').

Adoption Context

When adopting a pet, 'hikitoru' is the preferred ethical term, showing you are taking responsibility for a life.

Service Industry

If you work in a shop, use 'o-hikitori' when telling a customer their item is ready to be picked up.

Sensitivity

Use 'iki o hikitoru' in condolences or formal reports about a death to show respect.

Kanji Practice

The kanji '取' (take) contains the 'ear' radical on the left. Think of taking a message with your ear.

Context Clues

If you hear 'hikitoru' at a police station, it almost always means picking up lost property or a person.

Opposites

Pair 'hikitoru' with 'azukeru' (to leave/deposit) in your mind to remember the cycle of property.

Don't 'Hikitoru' Trash

Unless you are a garbage collector, don't use 'hikitoru' for trash on the ground. Use 'hirou'.

Abstract Usage

As you get more advanced, try using 'hikitoru' for taking over responsibility (sekinin) or words (kotoba).

암기하기

기억법

Imagine you are at the airport. You see your bag on the belt. You reach out, **PULL** (hiku) it toward you, and **TAKE** (toru) it. Hiku + Toru = Hikitoru (Pick up/Collect).

시각적 연상

A person pulling a small kitten out of a cardboard box and hugging it—taking it into their care.

Word Web

Luggage Lost and Found Adoption Pickup Responsibility Death (Breath) Withdrawal Transfer

챌린지

Go to a Japanese website like Amazon.co.jp or a courier site and look for the word '引き取り'. See how it is used for returns or pickups.

어원

Derived from the combination of two basic Japanese verbs: 'hiku' (引く - to pull/draw) and 'toru' (取る - to take). This compound structure is very common in Japanese (known as fukugo-doshi).

원래 의미: To pull something toward oneself and take it into possession.

Japonic

문화적 맥락

Always use 'iki o hikitoru' instead of 'shinu' when talking to someone about a family member who has passed away.

English uses 'pick up' for almost everything, but Japanese splits this into 'hirou' (from floor), 'mukae ni iku' (people), and 'hikitoru' (official collection).

Departures (Okuribito) - A film where the theme of handling the deceased (and their 'hikitori') is central. Hachiko - The story involves who would 'hikitoru' (take in) the dog after its owner passed. Japanese Civil Code - Contains specific sections on the 'hikitori' of children and property.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Airport/Travel

荷物を引き取る
引き取り所
預け荷物
バゲージクレーム

Animal Shelter

保護犬を引き取る
里親になる
引き取り手を探す
保健所

Lost and Found

遺失物を引き取る
警察署
身分証明書
忘れ物

Repair/Service

修理品を引き取る
店頭引き取り
引き取り連絡
完了

Bereavement

息を引き取る
最期
看取る
遺体を引き取る

대화 시작하기

"空港で荷物を引き取るのに、どのくらい時間がかかりましたか？"

"ペットショップで買うのと、保護施設から引き取るの、どちらがいいと思いますか？"

"もし駅で財布を拾ったら、どこに引き取りに行けばいいですか？"

"最近、何か修理に出したものを引き取りに行きましたか？"

"不用品の引き取りサービスを使ったことがありますか？"

일기 주제

今日、お店や駅で何かを引き取った経験について書いてください。

もしあなたがペットを引き取るとしたら、どんな動物がいいですか？その理由も教えてください。

「息を引き取る」という言葉の響きについて、どう感じますか？

誰かの責任や仕事を引き取ってあげた時のことを思い出して書いてください。

日本の「遺失物引き取り」のシステムについて、あなたの国と比べてどう思いますか？

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

Generally, no. For friends, use 'mukae ni iku' (迎えに行く). 'Hikitoru' sounds like you are taking legal custody of them, which is only used if they were detained by police or are in a similar formal situation.

If the delivery person comes to your house, you 'uketoru' (receive) the package. If you go to the post office because you missed the delivery, you 'hikitoru' (collect/claim) the package.

No, it is actually the most polite and standard way to say someone has died in a sensitive context. It is much softer than 'shinu' (to die).

Not necessarily. While it can involve paying for a service (like a repair), it often refers to reclaiming your own property for free or adopting a pet.

You use the noun form: 'tento-hikitori' (店頭引き取り). This is very common on Japanese shopping websites.

No, use 'hirou' (拾う). 'Hikitoru' requires that the item was being held by someone or an organization.

It is a transitive verb (ta-doshi) and takes the particle 'o' (を).

The humble form is 'o-hikitori suru' or more commonly in a travel context, 'o-hikitori ni ukagau'.

Yes, in formal or literary Japanese, it can mean to take back or withdraw a statement or proposal.

It means a 'collection fee,' often charged when a company comes to take away old appliances or large trash.

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