Translation guide
The English verb 'bring' covers carrying something toward the speaker or a reference point, causing a state, or leading to a result. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is brought, how, and the direction relative to the speaker. This guide organizes the most common meanings for learners.
You want to say that someone carries or transports a physical object to the place where the speaker is, or to a place associated with 'here'.
The most common and general way to say 'bring' for objects. Literally 'hold and come'. Use when the thing is brought to the speaker's location or to a place the speaker identifies with.
Please bring the book tomorrow.
Means 'take' from the speaker's perspective, but can translate to 'bring' when the movement is toward a third location that is not the speaker's current place. Use when the speaker is not at the destination.
Do not use 持っていく when the destination is the speaker's current location. Use 持ってくる instead.
Use for bringing people or animals. Literally 'lead and come'. Implies accompanying someone to the speaker's location.
Can I bring a friend home?
Use for bringing people or animals to a place away from the speaker. Similar to 持っていく but for living beings.
I'll bring the dog to the park.
You want to express that an action or event causes a particular condition, feeling, or outcome.
You want to say that someone introduces a subject into conversation.
You want to express that someone is led or persuaded to do something or reach a state.
Causative form. Can mean 'make/let someone do', and in context can translate to 'bring someone to do'.
You want to say that someone has something with them when they come.
You want to say that someone goes somewhere and returns with an item.
Literally 'hold and return'. Use when bringing something back home or to one's base.
Bring me the menu, please.
He brought wine to the party.
I'll bring an umbrella tomorrow (to the place I'm going).
She brought her child to the hospital.
Formal/literary verb meaning 'to bring about', 'to cause', often used for abstract results, changes, or benefits.
New technology brought about major changes.
The policy brought economic growth.
Means 'to cause' or 'to bring about', often for negative events like problems, accidents, or disputes.
The remark brought about controversy.
Pattern using もたらす with a noun marked by を. Very common in news and formal writing.
The heavy rain brought flooding.
Literally 'take out and bring', used for bringing up a topic or issue, often in a discussion or meeting.
He brought up the issue at the meeting.
Casual way to say 'bring up in conversation'.
She often brings up travel stories.
I was able to bring him to laugh. (I made him laugh.)
Literally 'make someone feel like doing', used for bringing someone to want to do something.
His story brought me to want to study abroad.
Same as the first meaning, but emphasizes the state of having the item on one's person when arriving.
Please bring your passport.
Formal verb meaning 'to bring (with one)', often used in written instructions or formal invitations.
Please bring your ID on the day.
I brought back souvenirs.
For bringing a person or animal back.
I brought the lost cat back home.
Bring it over there.
持ってくる is only for objects. For bringing people or animals, use 連れてくる.
She brought her boyfriend to the party.
The internet has brought many changes.