取る
The Japanese phrase for take is 取る.
The verb 取る is used to mean take or pick up an object. It is also used in academic settings to mean enrolling in or taking a specific course or credit.
Which one should you use?
While 取る means to take or pick up an object, it is distinct from 貰う, which means to receive something from someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form of 取る is 取ります. The negative form is 取らない, and the past tense is 取った.
Did you know?
- The verb 取る is used in the phrase 気を取る to mean becoming distracted or losing one's composure. It implies that something has 'taken' your attention away.
- The kanji for 取る includes a component representing 'hand', which visually reinforces the physical act of grasping or picking something up.
- While English uses 'take' for 'taking a shower', Japanese uses 浴びる (to bathe in/pour over), meaning you are literally bathing in the water rather than performing an action on the shower itself.
Examples in context
- 出席を取るぞ。I'll take attendance.The sentence is useful for using the form 取る to express taking attendance.Tatoeba #10910324 by small_snow, translation #10910327 by CK
- 休みを取る余裕なんてないよ。I can't afford to take a day off.The sentence is useful for using the form 取る to express taking a day off.Tatoeba #11545932 by small_snow, translation #12457507 by CK
- このふたを取るのを手伝ってください。Please help me take this lid off.The sentence is useful for using the form 取る to express taking a lid off.Tatoeba #223249 by small_snow, translation #60581 by Dejo
- 私は本を取ります。I take a book.
- 今晩、テレビゲームを取りに来てください。Please come to take the video game tonight.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 取る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
