Both verbs communicate something, but they place the focus differently.

The idea

伝える focuses on conveying a message, feeling or idea, including passing someone’s words on. 知らせる focuses on making a person aware of information, such as a time or result. Use 人に for the recipient and 内容を for what is communicated.

Patterns to compare
FormExample
伝つたえる気持きもちを伝つたえます
知しらせる時間じかんを知しらせます

Examples

  • 先生せんせいに気持きもちを伝つたえます。I convey my feelings to my teacher.
  • 母ははの言葉ことばを友達ともだちに伝つたえました。I passed my mother’s words on to a friend.
  • この歌うたは平和へいわの大切たいせつさを伝つたえます。This song conveys the importance of peace.
  • 友達ともだちに集合しゅうごう時間じかんを知しらせます。I let my friend know the meeting time.
  • 学校がっこうは休やすみを知しらせました。The school announced the closure.
  • 結果けっかが出でたら、メールで知しらせます。I will let you know by email when the results are out.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The meanings overlap: a meeting time can be either conveyed or made known. Choose by the intended focus, not an absolute ban on one verb.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the verb that foregrounds conveying gratitude. 感謝かんしゃの気持きもちを＿＿。（伝つたえます／知しらせます）

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    伝えます

    伝えます highlights conveying the feeling of gratitude.

  2. Choose the verb that foregrounds making the time known. 集合しゅうごう時間じかんを友達ともだちに＿＿。（知しらせます／伝つたえます）

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    知らせます

    知らせます highlights making the meeting time known to the friend.

  3. Choose the verb that foregrounds passing on the words unchanged. 母ははの言葉ことばをそのまま＿＿。（伝つたえます／知しらせます）

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    伝えます

    伝えます highlights passing the mother’s words on unchanged.

Use it today

Tell someone your feelings, announce a meeting time and pass on a person’s words.