okuru

Okuru is a Japanese verb with multiple meanings depending on the kanji used. The most common readings are okuru (送る) meaning to send or dispatch something, such as a letter, parcel, or information; and okuru (贈る) meaning to present something to someone as a gift. A related sense appears in compounds involving bidding farewell, as in 見送る (miokuru), meaning to see someone off or to bid farewell.

Both senses share the same reading but come from different verb classes. 送る and 贈る are godan verbs, so they conjugate in ways typical for this class, such as 送る (present), 送ります (polite), 送りました (past), 送らない (negative), and so on. The nuance of the sentence is clarified by the kanji: 送る emphasizes the act of sending or forwarding, while 贈る emphasizes giving a gift.

Usage examples illustrate the distinction: 手紙を送る (to send a letter); 荷物を送る (to ship a package); 彼に花を贈る (to give flowers to him); 駅で友人を見送る (to see a friend off at the station). In practical daily language, 贈る is common in gift-giving contexts, such as seasonal gifts or celebratory presents, while 送る covers sending messages, emails, or goods.

Etymology notes that okuru derives from classical Japanese concepts of sending forward or presenting, and the form appears in many related expressions. In Japanese linguistics, the related term okurigana (送り仮名) is a separate concept describing the kana attached to stems, illustrating how okuru endings are written in different words.