知らせる

§ What does 知らせる mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese verb 知らせる (しらせる) is a core vocabulary word you'll encounter frequently. It means "to inform," "to notify," or "to let know." It's a direct and useful verb, and you'll find it in many everyday situations. Think of it as a way to convey information to someone.

When you need to tell someone something, whether it's a piece of news, a change of plans, or just a simple fact, 知らせる is the verb you'll reach for. It's used when there's an active intention to pass on information. It's not about passively finding out something; it's about actively informing someone else.

Let's break down some common scenarios where 知らせる is used:

• Giving updates: If there's a change in a schedule, an event, or a project, you would use 知らせる to inform others about it.
• Delivering news: Whether it's good news or bad news, when you tell someone about it, you are 知らせる-ing them.
• Making announcements: In a formal or informal setting, when you announce something to a group, you use 知らせる.
• Sharing information: When you have information that someone else needs to know, you 知らせる them.

It's a versatile verb, and understanding its nuance will significantly boost your ability to communicate effectively in Japanese. It's a transitive verb, which means it takes a direct object (the thing being informed) and often an indirect object (the person being informed). We'll look at how to construct sentences with it shortly.

DEFINITION

To inform or notify someone.

Here are a couple of basic examples to get you started:

Translation hint: You need to inform him.

Translation hint: Please let me know the results.

It's important to distinguish 知らせる from other verbs that might seem similar but have different nuances. For example, 伝える (つたえる - to convey, to transmit) can also mean to tell or inform, but 知らせる often implies a more active notification, especially of news or changes. We'll delve deeper into these comparisons in later sections. For now, focus on 知らせる as your go-to verb for actively informing someone about something important or new.

Think of it this way: when you 知らせる, you are actively ensuring that the other person becomes aware of the information. It's about making sure the message gets through. This can be crucial in professional settings, personal communication, and any situation where clear and timely information sharing is necessary. Mastering this verb will significantly improve your fluency and accuracy when discussing communication in Japanese.

Hey there, Japanese learners! Today we're diving into 知らせる (shiraseru), a really useful verb meaning "to inform" or "to notify." It's an A2 level word, so you'll hear and use it a lot in everyday conversations. Let's break it down.

§ What '知らせる' means

Japanese Word

知らせる (shiraseru)

Type

Verb

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

To inform, to notify, to let know.

§ How to use it in a sentence — grammar, prepositions

When you want to tell someone something, 知らせる is your go-to word. It's a transitive verb, which means it usually takes a direct object. You'll often see it used with particles like に (ni) to indicate the person being informed and を (o) or a clause followed by と (to) to indicate what is being informed.

Let's look at the patterns:

• (Person) に (Thing) を 知らせる: To inform (person) of (thing).
• (Person) に (Clause) と 知らせる: To inform (person) that (clause).

Here are some examples to make it clear:

In this example, 彼 (kare) is the person being informed (marked by に), and あなたの到着 (anata no tōchaku) is the thing being informed (marked by を).

Here, the thing being informed is a longer clause, "会議がキャンセルされたこと" (the fact that the meeting was canceled), which is treated as a noun phrase and marked by を. Sometimes, especially with longer clauses, you might also see と (to) used:

In this case, the content of the information, "試験が来週だ" (the exam is next week), is directly followed by と, which functions like a quotation particle, indicating the content of the notification.

§ Common polite forms and conjugations

Like all Japanese verbs, 知らせる conjugates. Here are some key forms you'll use regularly:

• Dictionary form: 知らせる (shiraseru)
• Masu form (polite present): 知らせます (shirasemasu)
• Te form: 知らせて (shirasete)
• Past form: 知らせた (shiraseta)
• Negative form: 知らせない (shirasenai)

The ~てください (~te kudasai) form is a polite request, meaning "please inform/notify." Super useful for asking someone to tell you something.

§ Context and nuance

知らせる is a pretty straightforward verb, used in a variety of situations where you need to communicate information. It can be used for formal announcements, casual updates, or even telling someone bad news. The nuance comes more from the surrounding politeness levels (masu form, honorifics, etc.) than from the verb itself.

This shows it can be used for more serious or important information as well. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll get comfortable using 知らせる in no time!

That's it for 知らせる! Hope this helps you understand and use this important Japanese verb. Keep studying and don't hesitate to ask if you have questions!

§ Definition of 知らせる (shiraseru)

Japanese Word

知らせる (shiraseru)

Pronunciation

shiraseru

Part of Speech

Verb

CEFR Level

A2

English Definition

To inform or notify someone.

The verb 知らせる (shiraseru) is a fundamental word in Japanese, meaning 'to inform' or 'to notify'. It's used in a wide variety of situations, from casual conversations to formal announcements. Understanding how and when to use it will significantly improve your communication skills in Japanese.

§ 知らせる in the Workplace

In a work setting, you'll hear and use 知らせる frequently to convey important information. This could be anything from project updates to changes in schedule. It's a common way to keep colleagues and superiors in the loop.

• When informing a colleague:

  会議の時間を変更したことを彼に知らせました (Kaigi no jikan o henkoshita koto o kare ni shirasemashita).

  Hint: I informed him that the meeting time had changed.

• When notifying a client (often used in a more formal context, or with polite forms like お知らせす (oshirase shimasu) or お知らせいたします (oshirase itashimasu)):

  お客様にプロジェクトの進捗状況をお知らせいたします (Okyakusama ni purojekuto no shinchoku jokyo o oshirase itashimasu).

  Hint: We will inform our clients about the project's progress.

§ 知らせる in School

At school, teachers use 知らせる to inform students about assignments, deadlines, or changes to the school schedule. Students might also use it to inform teachers about absences or other important matters.

• A teacher informing students:

  先生が試験の日程を生徒に知らせました (Sensei ga shiken no nichijo o seito ni shirasemashita).

  Hint: The teacher informed the students of the exam schedule.

• A student informing a teacher:

  程病欠席になることを先生に知らせました (Byoki de kesseki ni naru koto o sensei ni shirasemashita).

  Hint: I informed the teacher that I would be absent due to illness.

§ 知らせる in the News and Public Announcements

When you read or watch Japanese news, you'll often see or hear 知らせる or its noun form, お知らせ (oshirase), used for public announcements, warnings, or official statements. This is how the public is informed about important events, government decisions, or emergencies.

• News report:

  政府は新しい法律について国民に知らせました (Seifu wa atarashii horitsu ni tsuite kokumin ni shirasemashita).

  Hint: The government informed the public about the new law.

• Public announcement (using the noun form お知らせ):

  駅で会議の中止のお知らせがありました (Eki de kaigi no chushi no oshirase ga arimashita).

  Hint: There was an announcement at the station about the cancellation of the meeting.

As you can see, 矠らせる (shiraseru) is a versatile verb essential for everyday communication in Japanese. By practicing these examples and paying attention to how it's used in different contexts, you'll quickly become more comfortable with it. Keep an ear out for it when you're consuming Japanese media!