Translation guide
The English phrasal verb 'get to' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: arriving at a place, having the opportunity or permission to do something, starting to do something, bothering or affecting someone emotionally, and reaching a point or stage. Each meaning is explained with natural Japanese equivalents.
Expressing physical arrival at a destination.
The most common and neutral verb for arriving at a place. Used with the particle に for the destination.
Call me when you get to the station.
何時に空港に着きますか。
What time will you get to the airport?
A more formal term for arrival, often used in announcements or written contexts.
まもなく東京に到着します。
We will soon get to Tokyo.
Implies finally arriving after difficulty or a long journey. Has a nuance of 'manage to reach'.
やっと山頂にたどり着いた。
We finally got to the summit.
Expressing that one is able to do something, often something enjoyable or desired.
A standard pattern meaning 'can do' or 'get to do'. It emphasizes the possibility or opportunity.
日本に行くことができて嬉しいです。
I'm happy that I get to go to Japan.
彼に会うことができなかった。
I didn't get to meet him.
Humble expression meaning 'I am allowed to do' or 'I get to do', implying gratitude for the opportunity. Often used in formal or polite speech.
今日は早く帰らせてもらいます。
I get to go home early today.
Literally 'have the opportunity to'. More formal and explicit than 〜ことができる.
留学する機会があって良かった。
I'm glad I got to study abroad.
Expressing the initiation of an action, often after a delay or when one finally addresses something.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'start doing'. Natural for 'get to work', 'get to cleaning', etc.
そろそろ仕事に取りかかり始めよう。
Let's get to work soon.
彼はすぐに掃除し始めた。
He got to cleaning right away.
Means 'to get started on' or 'to set about' a task. Often used with に.
Literally 'put one's hand to', meaning to start working on something, often something that has been put off.
Expressing that something is annoying, upsetting, or getting to someone emotionally.
Means 'to hurt one's feelings' or 'to offend'. Commonly used when someone's words or actions bother you.
彼の言い方が気に障った。
The way he said it really got to me.
Means 'to irritate' or 'to make someone frustrated'. Used when something is persistently annoying.
彼の態度には本当にイライラさせられる。
His attitude really gets to me.
Means 'to resonate in one's heart' or 'to touch one deeply'. Can be positive or negative depending on context.
その映画の最後のシーンが心に響いた。
The last scene of the movie really got to me.
Expressing progression to a certain point in a process, story, or state.
Literally 'come to the point of'. Used for reaching a stage in a process or narrative.
話がやっと本題まで来た。
We finally got to the main topic.
ここまで来たら諦められない。
Now that we've gotten to this point, we can't give up.
Formal expression meaning 'to reach the point of' or 'to lead to'. Often used in written or formal speech.
交渉は合意に至らなかった。
The negotiations didn't get to an agreement.
English 'get to' is highly context-dependent. Avoid directly translating the words 'get' and 'to'. Instead, identify the intended meaning first, then choose the appropriate Japanese expression. For example, 'get to work' is not 仕事に着く but 仕事に取りかかる or 仕事を始める.
夕食の準備に取りかかろう。
Let's get to preparing dinner.
I finally got to my homework.