What does “todokeru” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “todokeru” to mean ‘to deliver’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “todokeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “todokeru”
- Todokenai: the nai form of “todokeru”
- Todokeyou: the volitional form of “todokeru”
- Todokemasu: the masu form of “todokeru”
- Todoketa: the ta form of “todokeru”
- Todokete: the te form of “todokeru”
- Todokereba: the ba form of “todokeru”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “todokeru”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “todokeru”.
- todokeru – 届ける (とどける) : a verb meaning ‘to deliver’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “deliver” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa shiawase wo todokeru – 私達は幸せを届ける (わたしたちはしあわせをとどける)
We deliver happiness.
Below are the new word used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- shiawase – 幸せ (しあわせ) : a noun meaning ‘happiness’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “shiawase” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “todokeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to deliver’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “todokeru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “todokenai”.
Todokenai: the nai form of “todokeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “todokenai”.
- todokenai – 届けない (とどけない) : the nai form of “todokeru”, which means ‘not to deliver’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “todokenai” consists of the following two parts:
- todoke – 届け (とどけ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todokenai” is literally the nai form of “todokeru” and means ‘not to deliver’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t deliver” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa tegami wo todokenai – 私達は手紙を届けない (わたしたちはてがみをとどけない)
We don’t deliver letters.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- tegami – 手紙 (てがみ) : a noun meaning ‘letter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “todokenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to deliver’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Todokeyou: the volitional form of “todokeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “todokeyou”.
- todokeyou – 届けよう (とどけよう) : the volitional form of “todokeru”, which expresses volition to deliver.
Grammatically, “todokeyou” consists of the following two parts:
- todoke – 届け (とどけ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
- you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todokeyou” is literally the volitional form of “todokeru” and expresses volition to deliver. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s deliver” in Japanese
sekai ni shiawase wo todokeyou – 世界に幸せを届けよう (せかいにしあわせをとどけよう)
Let’s deliver happiness to the world!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- sekai – 世界 (せかい) : a noun meaning ‘world’ in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “sekai” to indicate the object to which the speakers deliver happiness.
This is a typical usage of “todokeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s deliver” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Todokemasu: the masu form of “todokeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “todokemasu”.
- todokemasu – 届けます (とどけます) : the masu form of “todokeru”, which means ‘to deliver’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “todokemasu” consists of the following two parts:
- todoke – 届け (とどけ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todokemasu” is literally the masu form of “todokeru” and means ‘to deliver’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “deliver” politely in Japanese
kanojo tachi wa byouin ni hana wo todokemasu – 彼女達は病院に花を届けます (かのじょたちはびょういんにはなをとどけます)
They deliver flowers to hospitals.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese. In this example, this works together with “tachi” to say “they” in Japanese.
- byouin – 病院 (びょういん) : a noun meaning ‘hospital’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- hana – 花 (はな) : a noun meaning ‘flower’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “todokemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “deliver” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Todoketa: the ta form of “todokeru”
Below are the definition and meanings of “todoketa”.
- todoketa – 届けた (とどけた) : the ta form of “todokeru”, which means ‘delivered’, ‘have delivered’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “todoketa” consists of the following two parts:
- todoke – 届け (とどけ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todoketa” is literally the ta form of “todokeru” and means ‘delivered’, ‘have delivered’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “delivered” in Japanese
kanojo tachi wa shiawase mo todoketa – 彼女達は幸せも届けた (かのじょたちはしあわせもとどけた)
They delivered happiness too.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “shiawase” to make the object in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
This is a typical usage of “todoketa”. When we want to use the past tense form of “todokeru”, this ta form is the best option.
Todokete: the te form of “todokeru”
Below are the definition and meaning of “todokete”.
- todokete – 届けて (とどけて) : the te form of “todokeru”, which means ‘to deliver’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “todokete” consists of the following two parts:
- todoke – 届け (とどけ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todokete” is literally the te form of “todokeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “todokete” is very useful when we want to use “todokeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please deliver” in Japanese
boku ni hana wo todokete kudasai – 僕に花を届けてください (ぼくにはなをとどけてください)
Please deliver flowers to me.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “todokete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “todokete”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “todokeru” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Todokereba: the ba form of “todokeru”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “todokereba”.
- todokereba – 届ければ (とどければ) : the ba form of “todokeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to deliver’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “todokereba” consists of the following two parts:
- todokere – 届けれ (とどけれ) : one conjugation of “todokeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “todokereba” is literally the ba form of “todokeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “todokereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to deliver’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if deliver” in Japanese
hana wo todokereba, kanojo ga yorokobu – 花を届ければ、彼女が喜ぶ (はなをとどければ、かのじょがよろこぶ)
If you deliver flowers to her, she will be happy.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make the subject in the second clause.
- yorokobu – 喜ぶ (よろこぶ) : a verb meaning ‘to be happy’, ‘to feel happy’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “todokereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “hana wo todokereba”, which means ‘if you deliver flowers to her’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to deliver’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “todokeru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- todokeru – 届ける (とどける) : a verb meaning ‘to deliver’ in Japanese.
- todokenai – 届けない (とどけない) : the nai form of “todokeru”, which means ‘not to deliver’ in Japanese.
- todokeyou – 届けよう (とどけよう) : the volitional form of “todokeru”, which expresses volition to deliver.
- todokemasu – 届けます (とどけます) : the masu form of “todokeru”, which means ‘to deliver’ politely in Japanese.
- todoketa – 届けた (とどけた) : the ta form of “todokeru”, which means ‘delivered’, ‘have delivered’, or such in Japanese.
- todokete – 届けて (とどけて) : the te form of “todokeru”, which means ‘to deliver’ in Japanese. When we want to use “todokeru” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- todokereba – 届ければ (とどければ) : the ba form of “todokeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to deliver’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
