The Meaning of toritsugu [取り次ぐ] In Japanese

取り次ぐ
とりつぐ
Romaji: toritsugu N3

What does 取り次ぐ mean?

Translation and Meaning

to relay, to forward, to pass on, to act as an intermediary

Definition

To relay a message, request, or instruction from one person to another, usually through an intermediary; it describes handling communications on behalf of someone else.

Type

Verb (五段動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • relay or forward messages or requests to another person or department
  • act as an intermediary or go-between in conveying information
  • in telephone or front-desk contexts, to connect or transfer a call

Composition

  • 取: to take, receive
  • 次: next, to follow; combined meaning is taking and handing over to the next person

Usage

Used in formal and semi-formal contexts, particularly in business, administration, and customer-service settings; common phrases include 電話を取り次ぐ and 伝言を取り次ぐ; it is not typically used in casual, everyday speech.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a relay baton being taken (取) and passed on to the next person (次); this mirrors taking a message and handing it to someone else.

Variations

  • 伝える (tsutaeru) — relay
  • 仲介する (chuukaisuru) — mediate
  • 転送する (tensousuru) — forward

Example Phrases

  • 私は 受付の 電話を 上司に 取り次ぐ。
    Watashi wa uketsuke no denwa o jōshi ni toritsugu.
    I forward the receptionist’s call to my boss.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 受付の (uketsuke no) – reception’s
    • 電話を (denwa o) – phone
    • 上司に (jōshi ni) – to my boss
    • 取り次ぐ (toritsugu) – forward
    The core grammar point is the verb 「取り次ぐ」 meaning ‘to forward/relay’; it takes を for the thing being forwarded and に for the recipient. Here, 「受付の電話」 is forwarded to 「上司」.
取り次ぐ