Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI take over | ||
| NegativeI don’t take over |
JAPANESE VERB
ひきつぐ
引き継ぐ
to take over, to hand over work
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI took over | ||
| NegativeI didn’t take over |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formtaking over, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am taking over | ||
| Please (て ください)please take over |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can take over | ||
| NegativeI can’t take over |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to take over | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to take over |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s take over |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I take over
- If, when (たら) if I take over
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) take over (do it)
- Plain command take over!
- Please don’t please don’t take over
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am taken over | ||
| CausativeI make someone take over |
How to use ひきつぐ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
らいげつ から、 わたし が この たんとう を ひきつぎます。
From next month, I take over this job.
-
Past
さんきゅう の まえ に、 ぜんぶ の しごと を ひきついだ。
Before maternity leave, I handed over all my work.
-
Te-form
いま、 まえ の たんとうしゃ から ひきついで いる ところ です。
I'm in the middle of taking over from the previous person in charge.
-
Potential
この おきゃくさま だけ は、 だれ に も ひきつげない。
This client is the one I can't hand over to anyone.
-
Want to
しゅっちょう の まえ に、 きちんと ひきつぎたい。
Before the trip, I want to hand things over properly.
-
Volitional
こうはい に、 すこし ずつ ひきつごう。
Let's hand over to the junior staff little by little.
-
Conditional
しりょう ごと ひきつげば、 あと が らく です。
If you hand over the files too, things are easier afterwards.
-
Commands and requests
やすみ に はいる まえ に、 しごと を ひきつぎなさい。
Hand over your work before you go on leave.
-
Passive and causative
この みせ は、 ちち から むすこ に ひきつがれた。
This shop was handed down from father to son.
Good to know
- ひきつぐ works both ways: しごと を ひきつぐ is to take over someone's work, and also to hand it over to the next person. ひきつぎ is the handover itself.
- Doing a ひきつぎ before leave or a transfer is a rule of Japanese offices.
Where you hear ひきつぐ
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Advanced Level 3
- ベン さん の しごと を ひきつぎます。 I take over Ben's work.
- きょねん、 ツアー を ひきついだ。 Last year I took over the tour.
- あした、 くどう さん が ひきつぎます。 Tomorrow Mr. Kudo takes over.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).