お使い
otsukai
The English phrase "errands" is translated into Japanese as お使い (otsukai).
The term お使い is most frequently used to describe a child being sent by a parent to a shop or to perform a small task.
Which one should you use?
While お使い implies a task performed for someone else, the word 買い物 refers more generally to the act of shopping for oneself or in a broader sense. If you are simply talking about things you need to do, you can use the informal phrase やること.
How do you pronounce it?
otsukai
Did you know?
- There is a popular Japanese reality show called oldEnough! that features toddlers attempting their first お使い alone to buy groceries for their families.
- While お使い refers to errands, the same word can also mean 'messenger' or 'envoy' in a formal or historical context.
- The word お使い is derived from the verb 使う, which means both 'to use' and 'to employ' or 'to send on an errand'.
Examples in context
- 母のお使いに行ってきます。Haha no otsukai ni itte kimasu.I am going on an errand for my mother.
- お使い、頼んでもいい？Otsukai, tanondemo ii?Can I ask you to run an errand?
Example conversation
Youta is asking Yui for help with some tasks.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、どうしたの？Youta, dou shita no?Youta, what's up?
- 陽太 Yota結衣、ちょっとお使いをお願いできる？Yui, chotto otsukai o onegai dekiru?Yui, can you run a quick errand for me?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。どこに行けばいい？Ii yo. Doko ni ikeba ii?Sure. Where should I go?
- 陽太 Yotaコンビニで牛乳を買ってきて。Konbini de gyuunyuu o katte kite.Please buy some milk at the convenience store.
