出発

しゅっぱつする

departure

JLPT N4

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"出発 (しゅっぱつ)" means "departure" and is commonly used to talk about leaving or starting a journey, trip, or movement from one place to another. It is often paired with verbs like "する" to form "出発する," meaning "to depart."

Common Contexts

You will hear "出発" in travel-related situations such as trains, buses, flights, or personal trips. It can also be used metaphorically for starting new phases, like a new job or project.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 出発する: to depart, the most common verb phrase.
  • 出発時間: departure time, used to specify when something leaves.
  • 出発前: before departure, often used when preparing or checking things.

Register and Politeness

"出発する" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Adding polite forms like "出発します" is common in announcements or polite conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "出発" with "到着" (arrival). Remember, "出発" is leaving, while "到着" is arriving. Also, "出発" is a noun and requires "する" to become a verb unless used in compound verbs.

Example Sentences

でんしゃはごぜんはちじにしゅっぱつします。

The train departs at 8 a.m.

りょこうのしゅっぱつまえににもつをもういちどかくにんしてください。

Please check your luggage once more before departure for the trip.

かれはあたらしいしごとのためにとうきょうへしゅっぱつした。

He departed for Tokyo for his new job.