伝える

• Reading: つたえる
• Romaji: tsutaeru
• Kanji breakdown: 伝 (den/tsuta) — transmit, convey, pass along
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ta.e.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To convey; to tell; to communicate. Passing information or a message to someone.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る and adding the appropriate ending. Used for relaying messages, communicating feelings, and transmitting information. Often appears in the pattern AにBを伝える (to convey B to A). The intransitive partner is 伝わる (to be conveyed).

Examples

1. 大切なことを彼に伝えたい。 I want to tell him something important.
2. 先生に遅れることを伝えてください。 Please let the teacher know I'll be late.
3. 気持ちを言葉で伝えるのは難しい。 It's hard to express your feelings in words.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, workplace, relationships

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 伝 (den/tsuta), meaning to transmit or pass along. The character depicts a person (亻) and a specialized action, representing the passing of something from one person to another.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal