Some Japanese verbs can feel confusing at first because English often uses just one word—like take or bring—while Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is moving and which direction it is moving.

A common example is these four verbs:

• 持もっていく
• 持もってくる
• 連つれていく
• 連つれてくる

Once you understand the pattern, they become much easier to use.

Things vs People

The first difference is what you are moving.

For Things: 持もつ (to carry / to hold)

Use these when bringing or taking an object.

• 持もっていく = take something away / bring something there
• 持もってくる = bring something here

For People or Animals: 連つれる (to take along)

Use these when bringing or taking a person or animal with you.

• 連つれていく = take someone along / bring someone there
• 連つれてくる = bring someone here

Direction Matters

The second difference is direction.

～いく = movement away from the speaker / toward another place

• 明日あした、お弁当べんとうを持もっていきます。
  I’ll take my lunch tomorrow.
• 友ともだちをパーティーに連つれていきます。
  I’ll take my friend to the party.

～くる = movement toward the speaker / toward here

• ケーキを持もってきました。
  I brought cake.
• 妹いもうとを連つれてきました。
  I brought my younger sister.

Easy Way to Remember

Think of it like this:

• 持もって～ = move a thing
• 連つれて～ = move a person / animal
• ～いく = go there
• ～くる = come here

So:

• 持もっていく = take an item there
• 持もってくる = bring an item here
• 連つれていく = take a person there
• 連つれてくる = bring a person here

Common Mistake

Many learners accidentally use 持もってくる for people.

❌ 友ともだちを持もってきた
(This sounds like you carried your friend like an object.)

✅ 友ともだちを連つれてきた
(I brought my friend.)

That’s why choosing between things and people is important.

Natural Everyday Examples

• 傘かさを持もっていってね。
  Take your umbrella.
• 飲のみ物ものを持もってきてください。
  Please bring drinks.
• 子こどもを病院びょういんへ連つれていく。
  Take the child to the hospital.
• 犬いぬを連つれてきてもいいですか。
  Can I bring my dog?

Final Tip

When you’re unsure, ask yourself two questions:

1. Is it a thing or a person/animal?
2. Is it moving there or here?

Answer those, and the correct verb usually becomes clear.

Small patterns like this make Japanese much easier over time.

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