The Meaning of toru [取る] In Japanese

取る
とる
Romaji: toru N5

What does 取る mean?

Translation and Meaning

take, pick up, get, obtain, capture

Definition

The verb 取る (toru) means “to take” — to move something into one’s possession or remove it from a place or state; it functions as a broad, transitive action verb applied to physical acts and many abstract operations in everyday Japanese.

Type

verb (godan, transitive) (動詞、五段・他動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1. to pick up or collect items, such as grabbing an object or gathering harvests.
  • 2. to record, capture, or register information, measurements, or evidence.
  • 3. to assume, accept, or undertake a role, responsibility, duty, or task.
  • 4. to select, adopt, or choose an option, policy, or candidate.
  • 5. to secure points, credits, or results in games, tests, or competitions.
  • 6. to arrange or take time (e.g., taking leave or making provisions).
  • 7. colloquial use for unlawfully taking (stealing) in certain contexts.

Etymology

The verb 取る (toru) is a native Japonic root attested in Old Japanese; its phonetic shape has remained stable through historical sound changes and it follows the regular modern godan conjugation pattern, showing continuity rather than borrowing or abrupt phonological shifts.

Origin

As an action concept, ‘taking’ appears in the earliest Japanese records: 取る is documented in Heian-era and older texts where it described seizure of goods, harvest or tribute, and legal removal; its semantic field grew alongside administrative and agrarian practices in classical Japan.

Composition

The kanji 取 combines semantic elements suggesting manual action and seizing: its common radical form when used as a verb is the hand radical (扌) indicating an action performed by the hand, paired with the remainder of the character that historically conveys grasping or taking, so together they evoke the idea of taking or seizing by hand.

Usage

Used across registers from casual speech to formal writing, with polite forms like 取ります (torimasu) in polite contexts and plain 取る (toru) in informal speech; typical situations include physically picking up something, collecting data or samples, accepting responsibility, arranging time off, and combining with auxiliaries and other verbs to express aspect, causation, or permission.
💡 Tips
Visualize a hand radical (扌) reaching out to grab an object while you say toru; connect the hand image to the meaning “take” to lock the verb into memory.

Variations

  • 採る (toru) — to pick or adopt, often used for selection or harvesting.
  • 撮る (toru) — to take a photograph or record an image.
  • 盗る (toru) — to steal (colloquial/archaic usage).
  • 受け取る (uketoru) — to receive or accept something handed over.
  • 与える (ataeru) — antonym: to give.

Example Phrases

  • 会議室では間隔をあけて席を取る。
    Kaigishitsu de wa kankaku o akete seki o toru.
    In the meeting room, keep a safe distance and take a seat.
    Lista:
    • 会議室 (kaigishitsu) – meeting room
    • では (de wa) – in/at
    • 間隔 (kankaku) – interval
    • を (o) – (object marker)
    • あけて (akete) – to open/leave space
    • 席 (seki) – seat
    • を (o) – (object marker)
    • 取る (toru) – to take
    In this sentence, 「間隔」 marks the space you keep; it is used with を to indicate what you create or maintain.
  • 長い 一日 だから、 休息 を 取る 時間 を 作る。
    nagai ichinichi dakara, kyusoku o toru jikan o tsukuru.
    Because it’s a long day, I’ll make time to rest.
    Lista:
    • 長い (nagai) – long
    • 一日 (ichinichi) – one day
    • だから (dakara) – therefore
    • 休息 (kyusoku) – rest
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 取る (toru) – to take
    • 時間 (jikan) – time
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 作る (tsukuru) – to make
    Shows how 「休息」 is used with を取る to mean ‘to take a rest’.
  • 授業の補足を 先生が くれる ときに ノートを 取る。
    Jugyō no hosoku o sensei ga kureru toki ni nooto o toru.
    I take notes when the teacher provides supplementary explanations in class.
    Lista:
    • 授業の補足を (jugyō no hosoku o) – lesson supplement
    • 先生が (sensei ga) – the teacher
    • くれる (kureru) – gives (to me)
    • ときに (toki ni) – when
    • ノートを (nooto o) – notebook
    • 取る (toru) – take
    Core point: 「補足」 means ‘supplement’ or ‘additional explanation’, here the object of くれる in 授業の補足をくれる.
  • 私は今日のミスの責任を自分で取る。
    Watashi wa kyou no misu no sekinin o jibun de toru.
    I will take responsibility for today’s mistake.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • ミスの (misu no) – of the mistake
    • 責任を (sekinin o) – responsibility
    • 自分で (jibun de) – by myself
    • 取る (toru) – take
    Core grammar: 責任を取る means ‘to take responsibility’; the object is 「責任」.
取る