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.
明日、本を持ってきてください。
Please bring the book tomorrow.
彼はパーティーにワインを持ってきた。
He brought wine to the party.
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.
明日、傘を持っていきます。
I'll bring an umbrella tomorrow (to the place I'm going).
Use for bringing people or animals. Literally 'lead and come'. Implies accompanying someone to the speaker's location.
友達を家に連れてきてもいい？
Can I bring a friend home?
彼女は子供を病院に連れてきた。
She brought her child to the hospital.
Use for bringing people or animals to a place away from the speaker. Similar to 持っていく but for living beings.
犬を公園に連れていきます。
I'll bring the dog to the park.
You want to express that an action or event causes a particular condition, feeling, or outcome.
Formal/literary verb meaning 'to bring about', 'to cause', often used for abstract results, changes, or benefits.
新しい技術が大きな変化をもたらした。
New technology brought about major changes.
その政策は経済成長をもたらした。
The policy brought economic growth.
Means 'to cause' or 'to bring about', often for negative events like problems, accidents, or disputes.
Pattern using もたらす with a noun marked by を. Very common in news and formal writing.
大雨が洪水をもたらした。
The heavy rain brought flooding.
You want to say that someone introduces a subject into conversation.
Literally 'take out and bring', used for bringing up a topic or issue, often in a discussion or meeting.
会議でその問題を持ち出した。
He brought up the issue at the meeting.
Casual way to say 'bring up in conversation'.
彼女はよく旅行の話を出す。
She often brings up travel stories.
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'.
彼を笑わせることができた。
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.
彼の話が私を留学する気にさせた。
His story brought me to want to study abroad.
You want to say that someone has something with them when they come.
Same as the first meaning, but emphasizes the state of having the item on one's person when arriving.
パスポートを持ってきてください。
Please bring your passport.
Formal verb meaning 'to bring (with one)', often used in written instructions or formal invitations.
当日は身分証明書を持参してください。
Please bring your ID on the day.
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.
お土産を持って帰った。
I brought back souvenirs.
For bringing a person or animal back.
迷子の猫を家に連れて帰った。
I brought the lost cat back home.
持ってくる means 'bring' toward the speaker's current location. 持っていく means 'take' away from the speaker, but can be translated as 'bring' if the speaker is not at the destination. Choose based on where the speaker is at the time of speaking.
ここに持ってきて。
Bring it here.
あそこに持っていって。
Bring it over there.
持ってくる is only for objects. For bringing people or animals, use 連れてくる.
メニューを持ってきてください。
Bring me the menu, please.
彼女は彼氏をパーティーに連れてきた。
She brought her boyfriend to the party.
インターネットは多くの変化をもたらした。
The internet has brought many changes.
その発言が論争を引き起こした。
The remark brought about controversy.