The Meaning of azukeru [預ける] In Japanese

預ける
あずける
Romaji: azukeru N5

What does 預ける mean?

Translation and Meaning

to entrust, to deposit, to leave in someone’s care

Definition

預ける means to entrust or leave in someone’s care for safekeeping, often for a temporary period. The core concept is placing custody or responsibility in another person or institution for safekeeping or administration, whether for objects, money, or people.

Type

verb (ichidan) (Japanese verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Entrustment or safekeeping of belongings with another person or institution
  • Depositing money or valuables for safekeeping, such as at a bank or locker
  • Figurative sense of placing trust or confidence in someone

Etymology

預 means to deposit or entrust, and ける is the verb-forming suffix; together they form a native kun’yomi verb meaning to entrust or deposit for safekeeping; this is a kanji-based native formation rather than a loanword.

Composition

  • 預: core meaning is deposit/entrust, serving as the semantic nucleus of the word
  • ける: a verb-ending suffix that converts the stem into a transitive verb meaning to perform the act of entrusting or depositing

Usage

Used across formal and informal speech; for physical items, money, or a person under someone’s care, e.g., leaving groceries with a neighbor, depositing funds at a bank, or entrusting a child to a caregiver; typical sentence structures include [Nを預ける] or [場所に預ける], with polite forms [Nを預けます] or [Nを預けてください].
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of azu- as ‘assume custody’ by picturing a small guardian key guarding a treasure; the image helps recall entrusting something for safekeeping.

Variations

  • 託す (takusu) — to entrust a task or responsibility
  • 委ねる (yudaneru) — to entrust, leave to someone’s discretion
  • 預かる (azukaru) — to be kept in custody, to take care of

Example Phrases

  • 今、駅で友達に荷物を預ける。
    Ima, eki de tomodachi ni nimotsu o azukeru.
    I’m dropping off my luggage with a friend at the station now.
    Lista:
    • 今 (Ima) – now
    • 駅で (eki de) – at the station
    • 友達に (tomodachi ni) – to a friend
    • 荷物を (nimotsu o) – luggage
    • 預ける (azukeru) – to entrust/leave
    Core grammar: here 「預ける」 means to entrust/leave (something) with someone; pattern: [person]に [thing]を預ける, as in 友達に荷物を預ける.
預ける