送ります

The Japanese verb 送ります (okurimasu) is a foundational word in the Japanese language, primarily categorized under the CEFR A2 level. At its core, it translates to "to send" in English, but its semantic range is significantly broader than its English counterpart. While an English speaker might use different verbs for sending a letter, escorting a friend home, or spending time, Japanese often encapsulates these concepts within this single, versatile verb. Understanding okurimasu requires looking beyond the simple act of dispatching an object and considering the movement and transition of things, people, and even time itself.

Physical Objects

This is the most common usage. It refers to sending physical items like letters (tegami), packages (nimotsu), or gifts (presento) through the mail or a delivery service. When you go to the post office, you are almost certainly going to use this word. For example, 'Nimotsu o okurimasu' means 'I will send the luggage.'

Digital Communication

In the modern era, this verb has seamlessly transitioned into the digital world. It is used for sending emails (meeru), text messages (messeeji), or digital files. If you are clicking the 'send' button on your smartphone or computer, the action you are performing in Japanese is 'okurimasu'.

Escorting People

A culturally significant nuance of this word is 'to see someone off' or 'to take someone home.' If you walk a friend to the train station or drive them to their house to ensure they arrive safely, you use 'okurimasu'. This reflects the Japanese value of hospitality and care for others. For instance, 'Tomodachi o eki made okurimasu' means 'I will see my friend off to the station' or 'I will take my friend to the station.'

Beyond these physical and social interactions, okurimasu extends into the abstract realm of time and life. It is used in the phrase 'seikatsu o okuru,' which means 'to lead a life' or 'to live one's life.' This suggests the passage of time as a sequence of moments being 'sent' or 'passed' through. This depth makes it a poetic choice in literature and formal speeches. In a business context, it is used formally to describe the transmission of documents or information, often paired with humble or honorific prefixes to show respect to the recipient.

Historically, the kanji for this word, 送, consists of the 'road' radical (辶) and a phonetic component that suggests 'accompanying' or 'following.' This visual history perfectly aligns with the dual meaning of sending something down a path and accompanying someone on theirs. Whether you are a student sending homework to a teacher or a host ensuring a guest gets home safely, okurimasu is the bridge that connects the sender and the receiver, the traveler and their destination.

Using 送ります (okurimasu) correctly involves understanding the particles that govern its relationship with other words in the sentence. Because it is a transitive verb, the object being sent is almost always marked by the particle を (o). The recipient of the object is marked by に (ni), and the destination (if it's a place) can be marked by either に (ni) or へ (e). This structure is consistent across various contexts, making it a reliable pattern for learners to master early on.

The Basic Pattern

[Sender] は [Recipient] に [Object] を 送ります。 (Sender sends Object to Recipient.) Example: 'Watashi wa tomodachi ni nimotsu o okurimasu' (I send a package to my friend).

Using with People (Escorting)

[Person] を [Destination] まで 送ります。 (To see Person off to Destination.) Here, 'made' (until/to) is frequently used to emphasize the point to which you are accompanying them. Example: 'Kanojo o uchi made okurimasu' (I will see her to her house).

In polite Japanese, okurimasu is the '-masu' form of the dictionary verb okuru. When speaking to superiors or in a professional environment, you might encounter the honorific version o-okuri shimasu (humble) or o-okuri ni narimasu (respectful). For beginner and intermediate learners, sticking to okurimasu is perfectly acceptable in most daily interactions and business settings. It's also important to note the tense changes: okurimashita (sent), okurimasen (do not send), and okuritai (want to send).

One more advanced usage involves the 'te-form' combined with auxiliary verbs. Okutte ageru means you are sending something as a favor to someone else. Okutte morau means you are receiving the favor of being sent something or being escorted. For example, if a friend drives you home, you might say 'Tomodachi ni uchi made okutte moraimashita' (I had my friend drive me home). This adds a layer of social gratitude that is very common in natural Japanese conversation.

You will encounter 送ります (okurimasu) in a wide variety of real-life situations in Japan, ranging from the mundane to the highly formal. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word even when it's spoken quickly or in a noisy environment. The word is ubiquitous because the act of 'sending' is central to both Japanese logistics and social etiquette.

At the Post Office (Yuubinkyoku)

This is the primary location for 'okurimasu'. You will hear staff ask, 'Doko ni okurimasu ka?' (Where are you sending it to?) or 'Koukuu-bin de okurimasu ka?' (Will you send it by airmail?). You will also see it on forms and signs throughout the building.

In the Office

In a Japanese workplace, 'okurimasu' is the standard for digital communication. Colleagues will say, 'Ato de shiryou o okurimasu' (I will send the materials later) or ask, 'Meeru o okurimashita ka?' (Did you send the email?). It is also used when shipping products to clients or sending documents between branches.

Social Gatherings

When a dinner party or a meeting ends, the host will often say, 'Eki made okurimasu' (I'll see you to the station). This is a standard part of Japanese hospitality. Even if you decline, the offer is almost always made as a sign of respect and care for the guest's safety.

In media, such as anime and dramas, okurimasu is often used in emotional scenes. A character might say 'O-wakare no kotoba o okurimasu' (I send you my words of farewell) or 'Kansha no kimochi o okurimasu' (I send you my feelings of gratitude). This abstract use of 'sending' feelings or words is very common and adds a touch of sincerity to the dialogue. You might also hear it in news reports concerning the 'sending' of emergency supplies to disaster areas or the 'sending' of athletes to the Olympics.

Finally, during seasonal gift-giving periods like O-chugen (summer) and O-seibo (year-end), the word okurimasu is everywhere in department stores and advertisements. People are encouraged to 'send' gifts to express thanks to those who have helped them throughout the year. In these contexts, the word carries a weight of tradition and social obligation that goes far beyond a simple delivery service.

While 送ります (okurimasu) is relatively straightforward, English speakers often stumble on certain nuances and cultural contexts. The most common error involves confusing 'sending' with 'giving' or 'handing over.' In English, we might say 'I'll send you a gift,' but in Japanese, if you are giving it in person, you must use agemasu (to give). Okurimasu implies a distance that needs to be bridged, either by mail, a third party, or a digital medium.

Confusion with 'Giving' (Agemasu)

Mistake: Using 'okurimasu' when handing a present directly to someone. Correct: Use 'agemasu' for the act of giving. Use 'okurimasu' only if you are mailing it or sending it via a delivery service.

Confusion with 'Delivering' (Todokeru)

'Okurimasu' focuses on the sender's action of dispatching. 'Todokeru' focuses on the item reaching its destination or the act of delivering it personally. If you are physically bringing something to someone's house, use 'todokeru'.

Misusing for 'Seeing Off' (Miwakuru)

While 'okurimasu' can mean to escort someone home, 'miokuru' is used specifically for standing at a gate or station and watching someone depart. If you just wave goodbye as their train leaves, that is 'miokuru', not 'okurimasu'.

Another subtle mistake occurs with the particle choice. Some learners use o (object marker) for the destination, which is incorrect. The destination must be ni, e, or made. For example, saying 'Eki o okurimasu' would literally mean 'I will send the station,' which is impossible! You must say 'Eki made okurimasu' (I will see you to the station). Similarly, confusing okuru (to send) with okureru (to be late) is a common phonological error. 'Okuremasu' means 'I will be late,' while 'okurimasu' means 'I will send.'

Lastly, learners sometimes forget that 'okurimasu' is a 'Group 1' (Godan) verb. This means its conjugation follows the 'u' to 'i' pattern. Some might mistakenly treat it as a 'Group 2' (Ichidan) verb and say 'okuremasu' when they mean the polite form of 'okuru'. While 'okuremasu' is a real word (as mentioned, it means 'to be late' or is the potential form 'can send'), using it as the standard polite form is a grammatical error that can lead to significant confusion.

Japanese has several words that overlap with 送ります (okurimasu), and choosing the right one depends on the specific context of the 'sending' action. While okurimasu is the most versatile and general term, more specific verbs are used in professional, technical, or highly specific social situations. Learning these alternatives will make your Japanese sound more natural and precise.

出す (Dasu)

Often used for 'mailing' letters or postcards. While 'tegami o okurimasu' is correct, 'tegami o dasu' is very common and sounds slightly more casual and direct. It literally means 'to put out' the letter into the mail system.

届ける (Todokeru)

This means 'to deliver' or 'to report.' Use this when you are taking something to a destination yourself or when the focus is on the successful arrival of the item. For example, 'wasuremono o kouban ni todokeru' (to deliver a lost item to the police box).

郵送する (Yuusou suru)

A formal, technical term meaning 'to send by post.' You will see this in business documents and formal instructions. It is more specific than 'okurimasu' because it explicitly refers to the postal service.

送信する (Soushin suru)

This is the modern, technical term for 'to transmit' or 'to send' data. Use this when you are explicitly talking about electronic communication, like sending an email or a message in a professional setting.

Choosing between okurimasu and its alternatives is often a matter of register. For daily conversation, okurimasu is almost always the best choice. For business emails, soushin suru or yuusou suru can make you sound more professional and precise. In casual conversation, dasu is a quick and easy way to talk about mailing things. Each word has its own nuance, but okurimasu remains the solid, versatile foundation that every learner must master first.

When you are at an intermediate or advanced level, you will also encounter tenso suru (to forward) or hasso suru (to ship). These are even more specific and are used in logistics and office work. However, no matter how advanced you become, okurimasu will remain a staple of your Japanese vocabulary because of its deep social and cultural roots in the concepts of movement and hospitality.