Meaning and Usage
渡す (わたす) means "to hand over" or "to pass" something to someone else. It is a transitive verb commonly used in everyday situations when physically giving an object, document, or message.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 渡す when talking about handing over items like homework, letters, or documents. It implies a direct transfer from one person to another.
Collocations and Patterns
- 宿題を渡す: to hand over homework
- 手紙を渡す: to hand over a letter
- 書類を渡す: to hand over documents
These phrases are useful in school, work, or casual settings.
Register and Politeness
渡す is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. For more formal situations, you might use お渡しする.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 渡す with 渡る (わたる), which means "to cross" (e.g., a street or bridge). Remember 渡す involves giving something to someone, while 渡る means to go across something.