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遣わす (つかわす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

遣つかわす

つ

か

わ

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

Transitive verb meaning to send a person or thing, often with a nuance of purpose or mission. Slightly formal or literary.

王おうは使し者しゃを隣りん国ごくへ遣つかわした。
The king dispatched an envoy to the neighboring country.
彼かれは手て紙がみを遣つかわし

て

返へん

事じ

を

待ま

っ

た

。

He sent a letter and waited for a reply.

2

godan verb (-su), auxiliary verb

usually written using kana alone

Auxiliary verb attached to the て form of another verb, adding a slightly pompous or formal tone of doing something for someone. Usually written in kana.

陛へい下かがお許ゆるしつかわした。
His Majesty graciously granted pardon.
先せん生せいが推すい薦せん状じょうを書かいてつかわした。
The teacher was kind enough to write a letter of recommendation (for me).

Written forms

遣つかわすUsage61%
Standard kanji spelling for 'to send/dispatch'.
つかわすUsage29%
Usually written in kana for the auxiliary verb sense.
使つかわすUsage10%
Alternate kanji spelling; 使 is more associated with 'use', but this form is also used for 'send'.

Kanji

遣dispatch, despatch, send
使use, send on a mission, order

Similar words

送おくる
送る is the common, everyday word for 'send'. 遣わす is more formal and often implies sending on a mission.
やる
やる can also mean 'to send' or 'to give', but is casual. 遣わす is formal and can be condescending or honorific depending on context.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese つかはす. The kanji 遣 is used for 'dispatch', while 使 is associated with 'use' but also appears in this word. The auxiliary usage developed from the sense of sending someone to do something.