贈る

§ What does 贈る mean?

The Japanese verb 贈る (おくる, okuru) means "to give a gift" or "to present." It's specifically used when you're giving something as a present, a token of appreciation, or a commemoration. It’s not a general verb for "to give" in the way that あげる (ageru) or くれる (kureru) can be. Think of 贈る as having a more formal or special nuance, often implying a thoughtful exchange rather than just a simple handover.

DEFINITION

To give (a gift); to present.

You'll commonly hear or use 贈る in situations like:

• Giving birthday or Christmas presents.
• Presenting a gift for a wedding or new baby.
• Offering a souvenir from a trip.
• Giving a farewell gift to a colleague.
• Presenting an award or medal.

It carries a sense of formality and thoughtfulness. While あげる can be used for giving many things, 贈る elevates the act of giving to something more significant. For instance, you wouldn't typically use 贈る to say "give me the salt." For that, you'd use something like 塩を取ってください (Shio o totte kudasai - "Please pass the salt") or perhaps 塩をください (Shio o kudasai - "Salt, please").

§ When do people use it?

People use 贈る when the item being given is considered a gift, a present, or an award. The intention behind the act of giving is what differentiates 贈る from other verbs like あげる (ageru), くれる (kureru), or もらう (morau).

Here are some common scenarios:

• Birthdays and Anniversaries: When celebrating special occasions, 贈る is the natural choice for giving presents.
• Weddings and Funerals: For life events, both joyous and solemn, giving gifts (祝儀 - shūgi for weddings, 香典 - kōden for funerals, or other tokens) involves 贈る.
• Souvenirs: Bringing back omake (おまけ - extras) or omiyage (お土産 - souvenirs) from a trip to give to friends or family.
• Awards and Honors: When someone is presented with an award, prize, or a title, 贈る is the correct verb.
• Expressions of Gratitude: When giving a gift to show appreciation for help or kindness.

Let's look at some examples to make this clearer:

Hint: To give a present on one's birthday.

Hint: I gave her flowers.

Hint: To present a commemorative gift to the graduates. (Note: 贈呈 is a more formal noun form derived from 贈る.)

§ Understanding 贈る (okuru)

The Japanese verb 贈る (おくる, okuru) means "to give (a gift)" or "to present." It's typically used when you're giving something special or meaningful, often as a present, a token of appreciation, or a commemoration.

Japanese Word

贈る (おくる, okuru)

Definition

To give (a gift); to present.

CEFR Level

A2

§ Basic Sentence Structure with 贈る

When using 贈る, the basic sentence structure is straightforward:

• [Giver] は [Recipient] に [Gift] を 贈る。

This translates to: "[Giver] gives [Gift] to [Recipient]."

§ Particles to Remember

Here are the key particles you'll use with 贈る:

• に (ni): Indicates the recipient of the gift.
• を (o): Marks the direct object, which is the gift itself.
• は (wa): Marks the topic of the sentence, usually the giver.

§ Examples of 贈る in sentences

Hint: He gave her flowers.

Hint: I will give a present to my friend on their birthday.

Hint: We presented a commemorative gift to the graduates. (Note: 贈呈 (zoutei) is a more formal noun form of 贈る used with する (suru) to mean 'to present formally').

§ Common Phrases and Usage

You'll often hear 贈る in these kinds of contexts:

• 感謝の気持ちを贈る (kansha no kimochi o okuru): To express gratitude (literally, "to give feelings of gratitude").
• お祝いの言葉を贈る (oiwai no kotoba o okuru): To offer words of congratulations.
• 歌を贈る (uta o okuru): To dedicate a song.

Hint: I offer my heartfelt gratitude.

§ Conjugation of 贈る

贈る is a Godan verb (五段動詞), meaning its stem changes. Here are some common conjugations:

• Dictionary form: 贈る (okuru) - to give (a gift)
• Masu form: 贈ります (okurimasu) - to give (a gift) (polite)
• Te form: 贈って (okutte) - giving (a gift), and...
• Past tense: 贈った (okutta) - gave (a gift)
• Negative form: 贈らない (okuranai) - do not give (a gift)

Hint: Next year, I want to give my father a new watch.

So, you know that 贈る (okuru) means "to give (a gift)" or "to present." That's a good start. But where do you actually hear this word in real life? Knowing the situations helps you understand and use it naturally. Let's look at some common contexts: work, school, and even the news.

§ At Work

In a professional setting, 贈る (okuru) often comes up when people are celebrating milestones, showing appreciation, or saying goodbye. Think about office parties or farewell gatherings.

Hint

Everyone presented a bouquet for the department head's retirement celebration.

Hint

We will present a commemorative gift to our customers with feelings of gratitude.

Notice 贈呈 (zōtei) in the second example. This is a more formal noun form related to 贈る (okuru), often used in business or official presentations.

§ At School

School life also has moments for giving. Think about graduation ceremonies, farewell parties for teachers, or even cultural events.

Hint

The teachers gave farewell words to the graduating students.

Here, 贈る (okuru) isn't about physical gifts, but about "giving" words or encouragement. It shows how versatile the verb is.

§ In the News

News reports, especially about formal events, ceremonies, or diplomatic exchanges, often use 贈る (okuru). It adds a touch of formality to the reporting.

Hint

The president presented a work of art to the head of the visiting country.

Hint

Warm cheers were given to the Olympic athletes from the public.

Again, you see 贈る (okuru) used for non-physical "gifts" like cheers or support. The passive form 贈られた (okurareta) is common in news when the receiver is the focus.

By seeing 贈る (okuru) in these varied contexts, you can start to feel out its nuance. It's not just about handing over an item; it's about the act of presentation, often with some sentiment behind it, whether it's appreciation, congratulations, or support.

Key Takeaways

• 贈る (okuru) is used for giving gifts, presents, or even intangible things like words, support, or cheers.
• It appears in formal and informal situations at work, school, and in news reports.
• Listen for contexts where something is being presented with a sense of occasion or sentiment.

§ Mistake 1: Confusing 贈る (okuru) with 送る (okuru)

This is probably the most common mix-up. Both are pronounced 'okuru', but they have different meanings and uses. 贈る (okuru) means 'to give a gift' or 'to present something ceremonial'. Think of it as a special kind of giving. 送る (okuru) means 'to send' (a letter, an email, a package) or 'to see someone off'. They sound the same, but the kanji tells you everything you need to know. Pay close attention to the kanji to avoid this error.

DEFINITION

贈る (okuru): To give (a gift); to present.

DEFINITION

送る (okuru): To send; to see off.

Let's look at examples to make the difference clear:

§ Mistake 2: Using 贈る for everyday casual giving

While 贈る means 'to give', it carries a more formal or special nuance than simply 'to give' in English. For everyday, casual giving, you're much more likely to use あげる (ageru) or くれる (kureru) (depending on the direction of the giving). 贈る is typically reserved for gifts, presents, awards, or things given with a certain level of thought or ceremony.

Imagine you're just handing a pen to a colleague. You wouldn't use 贈る. You'd use あげる.

But if it's a birthday present, then 贈る becomes appropriate:

§ Mistake 3: Overlooking the nuance of 'presenting'

贈る isn't just about handing over an item; it often implies an act of presenting or bestowing. This is why you'll see it used for things like awards, titles, or even sending off good wishes.

• Awards/Titles: 賞 (shō - award) を贈る (okuru) - To present an award.
• Wishes/Words: 言葉 (kotoba - words) を贈る (okuru) - To offer words (e.g., of encouragement).

It's not just about physical items. The 'presenting' aspect is key. You're not 'giving' words in the same way you 'give' a pen. You are 'presenting' them, often with a deeper sentiment.

§ Summary: How to use 贈る correctly

To recap, here's how to avoid common mistakes with 贈る:

• Kanji Check: Always confirm you're using 贈る (gift/present) and not 送る (send/see off).
• Context Matters: Reserve 贈る for gifts, presents, awards, or ceremonial acts of giving.
• Nuance of 'Presenting': Remember it can be used for both tangible and intangible things that are formally or thoughtfully bestowed.

By keeping these points in mind, you'll use 贈る more accurately and naturally in your Japanese conversations and writing.