「訪ねる」(たずねる) - To Inquire

Explanation

訪ねる（たずねる） primarily means "to inquire." It is a commonly used verb in daily life, indicating the act of asking someone for information, such as directions or details about something. While it shares the same pronunciation as 「尋ねるたずねる」, their meanings differ; the latter is mainly used for "searching" or "seeking."

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
訪ねる	を + 訪ねる	Indicates actively asking for information, often used to inquire about a person, place, or matter.

Basic Usage

「訪ねる」 is a transitive verb that directly acts on the object, indicating the act of asking for information. Its basic sentence structure is:

• Subject + は + Object + を + 訪ねる.

For example:

• 先生せんせいに授業じゅぎょうについて訪ねる。
• Sensei ni jugyou ni tsuite tazuneru.
• To ask the teacher about the class.

Examples

• 彼かれに道みちを訪ねる。
• Kare ni michi o tazuneru.
• To ask him for directions.
  

• 駅えきで道みちを訪ねた。
• Eki de michi o tazuneta.
• Asked for directions at the station.
  

• 彼かれは私わたしに時間じかんを訪ねた。
• Kare wa watashi ni jikan o tazuneta.
• He asked me for the time.
  

• 学校がっこうの住所じゅうしょを訪ねた。
• Gakkou no juusho o tazuneta.
• Asked for the school's address.

Deep Dive

「訪ねる」 can be used in more complex sentence structures, such as:

• 彼かれに会議かいぎの場所ばしょを訪ねた。
• Kare ni kaigi no basho o tazuneta.
• Asked him for the location of the meeting.

In this case, the object of inquiry and the content being asked can be distinguished using the particles 「に」 and 「を」.

Real-Life Scenarios

In daily life, 「訪ねる」 is used in situations such as:

• Asking for directions in public places.
• Inquiring about specific event details from a friend.
• Asking a colleague about meeting arrangements at work.

Grammar Knowledge

Honorific and Humble Forms

In Japanese, the use of honorific and humble forms is very important. 「訪ねる」 can take different forms depending on the context. For example, in honorific speech, 「お訪ねになる」 can be used to show respect to the listener.

Example:

• 社長しゃちょうが私わたしにお訪ねになりました。
• Shachou ga watashi ni o-tazune ni narimashita.
• The president inquired with me.

Summary

訪ねる is a commonly used Japanese verb primarily used to inquire or ask for information. Understanding its usage and how it differs from similar grammar points can help you express yourself more accurately in conversations. Mastering this grammar point can enhance your ability to communicate effectively in daily life.