Meaning

Primary

To Be Transmitted

Alternatives

To Be Conveyed, To Be Handed Down

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji means transmit, and this verb version is to be transmitted or to be conveyed. It's intransitive, so it doesn't take a direct object. A message is transmitted, or your feelings are conveyed — that kind of thing.

Verbs ending in okurigana that rhyme with ある tend to be intransitive like this. You can remember this because if something is ある, it's just there, existing, not acting on anything else. That's why verbs that sound like it are often intransitive too!

Reading

つたわる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it's probably going to be the kun'yomi reading.

Lucky for you, the kanji readings for transitive and intransitive verbs are almost always the same. Once you learn one, you know them both! This reading is the same as 伝える.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 人に伝わる

    to be conveyed to people

    相手に伝わる

    to be conveyed to one's partner

    ストレートに伝わる

    to be conveyed in a straightforward manner

Context Sentences

この手紙で母の気持ちは伝わりました。

This letter conveyed my mother's feelings.

明日が休みなの、チームメイト全員に伝わってなかったみたい。

Apparently not all teammates got the message that there won't be practice tomorrow.

日本語が上手に話せなくても心で話せばきっと相手に伝わりますよ。

Even though you can't speak Japanese well, if you try to speak with your heart, people will understand.

Kanji Composition