預かる

• Reading: あずかる
• Romaji: azukaru
• Kanji breakdown: 預 (azu) — deposit, entrust, custody
• Pronunciation: /a.zɯ.ka.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To keep something for someone; to take custody of. To look after something entrusted to you.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. The receiver-side counterpart of 預ける (to deposit/entrust). Used at hotels (荷物を預かる), with children (子供を預かる), or for valuables. The humble form お預かりします is ubiquitous in service industries, especially when receiving payment.

Examples

1. ホテルで荷物を預かってもらった。 I had the hotel hold my luggage for me.
2. 友達の猫を一週間預かることになった。 I ended up looking after my friend's cat for a week.
3. お金はこちらでお預かりします。 We'll hold onto the money for you here.

Usage Guide

Context: service industry, daily life, childcare

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 預 (azu, to entrust/deposit) with the godan verb ending -karu, indicating receiving an action. Related to 預ける, forming an entrust/receive pair.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal