| 届く (todoku) | 届ける (todokeru) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To arrive / to reach / to be delivered | To deliver / to report / to submit |
| Verb type | Intransitive — no direct object (subject arrives) | Transitive — takes an object (you deliver something) |
| Subject | The item / thing that arrives | The person doing the delivering |
| Example | 荷物が届いた | 荷物を届ける |
YukaI see 届く and 届ける together a lot. Both have to do with delivery, right?
ReiExactly! 届く is intransitive — something arrives on its own. 届ける is transitive — you deliver something to someone. Classic Japanese transitive/intransitive verb pair!
What Does 届く (todoku) Mean?
届く is an intransitive verb meaning to arrive, to reach, or to be delivered. The subject is the thing that arrives — a package, a letter, a voice, a hand. It also carries the metaphorical meaning of “reaching” someone emotionally.
- 荷物が届いた。 — The package arrived.
- 手紙が届いた。 — The letter arrived.
- 声が届かない。 — My voice won’t reach / can’t be heard.
- 棚に手が届かない。 — I can’t reach the shelf.
- 気持ちが届いた。 — My feelings got through to them.
What Does 届ける (todokeru) Mean?
届ける is a transitive verb meaning to deliver, to submit, or to report. The subject is the person doing the delivering, and there is always a direct object (the thing being delivered). It also means to officially report or submit something (e.g., to the police or authorities).
- 荷物を届ける。 — To deliver a package.
- 忘れ物を届けた。 — I returned a lost item (delivered it back).
- 警察に届ける。 — To report to the police.
- 思いを届ける。 — To convey / deliver one’s feelings.
- 書類を役所に届けた。 — I submitted documents to the city office.
Transitive vs Intransitive Pattern
| 届く (intransitive) | 届ける (transitive) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who acts? | The object itself (arrives) | A person (delivers) |
| Direct object? | No — subject just arrives | Yes — something is delivered |
| Passive meaning? | No — describes natural arrival | Can become passive: 届けられる |
| For reporting? | No | Yes — 警察に届ける (report to police) |
YukaCan I use 届く for emotional messages, like “my feelings reached them”?
ReiYes! 気持ちが届いた and 思いが届いた are very natural and expressive — “my feelings reached them.” Similarly, 届ける is used: 思いを届けたい — “I want to convey my feelings.” Both work beautifully for emotional contexts!
Common Mistakes
- ✗ 荷物を届いた — Wrong: 届く is intransitive, no を object. ✓ 荷物が届いた
- ✗ 荷物が届ける — Wrong: 届ける needs a human subject. ✓ 荷物を届ける (I deliver the package)
- 届け出 (todoke de) — A formal report/notification (compound noun from 届ける)
Quick Quiz
Fill in: 届く or 届ける?
- 1. 明日、荷物が___予定です。 (The package is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.)
- 2. 忘れ物を落とし物センターに___た。 (I delivered the lost item to the lost-and-found.)
- 3. 彼女の声が遠くまで___。 (Her voice reaches far away.)
- 4. 書類を来週までに___てください。 (Please submit the documents by next week.)
Answers: 1. 届く 2. 届け 3. 届く 4. 届け
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Summary
| 届く | 届ける | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Intransitive (arrives by itself) | Transitive (someone delivers) |
| Subject | The item / message | The person |
| Core use | Package arrived, voice reached | Deliver, submit, report |
| Emotional use | 気持ちが届いた | 思いを届けたい |
