Both 提出（ていしゅつ） and 提供（ていきょう） involve giving something to someone — which is exactly why they are so easy to mix up. In English, both could be loosely translated as “provide” or “give.” But in Japanese, 提出 specifically means to submit or hand in something to a superior or institution, while 提供 means to offer or supply something, often as a service or contribution. The direction and relationship matter greatly.
YukaRei, at school we were told to 提出 our reports. But online I see 情報を提供する all the time. Are both words about giving something to someone?
ReiYes, but the direction is different! 提出 is when you hand something UP — to a teacher, boss, or authority. 提供 is when you offer or supply something to someone — a service, food, information, funding. 提出 implies obligation; 提供 implies generosity or supply.
At a Glance
| 提出（ていしゅつ） | 提供（ていきょう） | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | To submit / hand in | To provide / offer / supply |
| Direction | Upward — to authority/institution | Outward — to any recipient |
| Implies obligation? | Yes (deadline, required) | Not necessarily (can be voluntary) |
| Common objects | Reports, documents, applications | Services, information, food, funds |
| JLPT level | N3 | N3 |
提出（ていしゅつ）— Handing In to an Authority
提出（ていしゅつ） describes the act of formally submitting or handing in something — a document, report, application, or assignment — to an authority or institution. The key feature is that there is a clear hierarchy: you are giving something upward (to a teacher, employer, government office). It almost always involves an obligation, deadline, or requirement. You will encounter 提出 constantly in school and professional settings in Japan.
Verb form: 提出する (teishutsu suru) — to submit
Example 1
Japanese: レポートを明日までに提出してください。
Romaji: Repooto wo ashita made ni teishutsu shite kudasai.
English: Please submit the report by tomorrow.
Example 2
Japanese: 履歴書を会社に提出しました。
Romaji: Rirekisho wo kaisha ni teishutsu shimashita.
English: I submitted my resume to the company.
Example 3
Japanese: この書類は市役所に提出する必要があります。
Romaji: Kono shorui wa shiyakusho ni teishutsu suru hitsuyou ga arimasu.
English: This document needs to be submitted to the city office.
YukaSo 提出 always has a specific recipient who is in authority — a teacher, a company, a government office — and you are required to give them something?
ReiYes, and there is usually a deadline or a requirement involved. 提出 is serious — if you miss the 提出期限（ていしゅつきげん）, deadline for submission, there are consequences.
提供（ていきょう）— Offering or Supplying Something
提供（ていきょう） means to offer, provide, or supply something — goods, services, information, food, funding, or opportunities. Unlike 提出, there is no fixed hierarchy: a company can provide services to customers, a sponsor can provide funding to a broadcast, a government can provide support to citizens, or a friend can offer food at a party. The direction of giving is flexible. It also appears frequently in formal announcements and sponsorship credits.
Verb form: 提供する (teikyou suru) — to provide / offer
Example 1
Japanese: この番組はABC株式会社の提供でお送りします。
Romaji: Kono bangumi wa ABC kabushiki gaisha no teikyou de ookuri shimasu.
English: This program is brought to you by ABC Corporation. (sponsorship)
Example 2
Japanese: 個人情報を第三者に提供することはありません。
Romaji: Kojin jouhou wo daisan-sha ni teikyou suru koto wa arimasen.
English: We will not provide your personal information to third parties.
Example 3
Japanese: 被災者に食料と水が提供されました。
Romaji: Hisaisha ni shokuryou to mizu ga teikyou saremashita.
English: Food and water were provided to the disaster victims.
YukaSo 提供 is more like “supplying” or “offering” — it does not have to go upward, and it can be voluntary or commercial?
ReiYes. 提供 is flexible and generous. It can be a company providing a service, a government providing support, or a broadcaster announcing its sponsor. No fixed direction and no deadline required.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 情報を提出する（to a website/service） | 情報を提供する | Providing info to a service = 提供 (no hierarchy/deadline) |
| レポートを提供してください | レポートを提出してください | Submitting a report to a teacher = 提出 (required, upward) |
| スポンサー提出でお送りします | スポンサー提供でお送りします | Sponsor announcements always use 提供 |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | 提出（ていしゅつ） | 提供（ていきょう） |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Upward (to authority) | Any direction |
| Required? | Usually yes | Not necessarily |
| Typical object | Documents, reports, applications | Services, info, food, funding |
| Register | Formal, institutional | Formal to neutral |
| English equivalent | “Submit” / “Hand in” | “Provide” / “Offer” / “Supply” |
Compound Words and Fixed Phrases
Knowing these set phrases will help you recognize each word in context:
提出（ていしゅつ） phrases:
– 提出期限（ていしゅつきげん）— submission deadline
– 提出書類（ていしゅつしょるい）— documents to submit
– 提出物（ていしゅつぶつ）— things to be submitted (school assignments, etc.)
提供（ていきょう） phrases:
– 情報提供（じょうほうていきょう）— information provision
– 提供者（ていきょうしゃ）— provider / donor
– ご提供いただく — to have something provided (polite)
Decision Flowchart
Are you handing something in to a teacher, employer, or government office?
|
YES --> Use 提出（ていしゅつ）
|
NO
|
Is there a deadline or formal obligation to submit?
|
YES --> Use 提出（ていしゅつ）
|
NO
|
Are you supplying a service, information, food, or resources to someone?
|
YES --> Use 提供（ていきょう）
|
NO --> Consider whether 提出 (required submission) better fits the contextQuick Quiz
YukaOK, I want to test what I’ve learned! 提出 or 提供 — which one fits?
ReiThink about whether it goes upward (required) or outward (offered). Let’s go!
Q1: 宿題は明日までに___してください。
A1: 提出 (teishutsu) — homework is submitted to a teacher (upward, required).
Q2: この企業は無料でサービスを___しています。
A2: 提供 (teikyou) — a company offering a service (outward, supply).
Q3: 申請書類を窓口に___してください。
A3: 提出 (teishutsu) — submitting paperwork to an official counter (upward, required).
Q4: 被災地に支援物資が___された。
A4: 提供 (teikyou) — relief supplies were provided to disaster areas (outward, supply).
Q5: この番組はXYZ社の___でお送りします。
A5: 提供 (teikyou) — broadcast sponsorship announcement always uses 提供.
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