Translation guide
The English phrase "put forward" has several distinct meanings: to propose an idea or plan, to nominate someone, to advance a clock, to physically move something forward, and to present an argument. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each use.
I put forward a new plan.
Used for raising an issue, question, or problem for discussion. Slightly more formal than 提案する.
He put forward an important issue.
To present or put forward a concrete plan, data, or conditions. Often used when showing something specific.
Please put forward your conditions.
To offer or put forward a suggestion or help, often in a polite or humble manner. Used when volunteering something.
He put forward an offer of assistance.
To suggest someone for a position, role, or award.
The standard word for recommending or putting forward a person for a position or honor.
I put him forward as chairperson.
Literally 'to raise as a candidate'. Used when putting someone forward as a candidate.
To nominate or name someone for a position, often in formal settings like meetings.
I put him forward for president.
To move a clock or a scheduled time to a later time (note: 'put forward' means to make it later, not earlier).
Used for moving a clock forward or advancing a schedule. Be careful: in English 'put forward' a clock means to set it to a later time, which is 進める in Japanese.
Please put the clock forward one hour.
To move a schedule or event to an earlier time. Note: this is the opposite of 'put forward' in the clock sense, but sometimes used for deadlines.
In English, 'put forward' a meeting usually means to make it later, but 早める means to make it earlier. Use () to postpone.
To place or push something in a forward position.
To state or advance an argument, opinion, or viewpoint.
In English, 'put the clock forward' means to set it to a later time (e.g., for daylight saving). In Japanese, 進める (すすめる) is used. However, 'put a meeting forward' can be ambiguous in English; in Japanese, 早める means to make it earlier, while 遅らせる (おくらせる) means to postpone. Always clarify the intended direction.
Let's put her forward as a candidate.
We put the meeting forward (made it earlier).
彼は新しい理論を論じた。
He put forward a new theory.