Difference Between 及ぶ (およぶ) and 達成する (たっせいする)

Both 及ぶ and 達成する can relate to "reaching" or "achieving" something, but they have distinct nuances and usage contexts.

1. 及ぶ (およぶ) – "To Extend to / To Reach"

Meaning & Usage

• 及ぶ means "to reach," "to extend to," or "to amount to."
• It is more neutral and broad, often referring to extent, influence, range, or duration.
• 及ぶ is not necessarily about achievement but rather about something naturally reaching a certain point or level.

Examples:

1. 彼の影響は世界中に及ぶ。
   – "His influence extends worldwide."
   (Focus: Range/extent of influence, not an achievement.)
2. その被害は全国に及んだ。
   – "The damage extended across the entire country."
   (Focus: How far the effect reached.)
3. 手術は５時間に及んだ。
   – "The surgery lasted five hours."
   (Focus: Duration, not an accomplishment.)
4. 彼の収入は年収1000万円に及ぶ。
   – "His annual income reaches 10 million yen."
   (Focus: The level reached, not an accomplishment.)

Key Nuance:

• 及ぶ is neutral and does not imply an intentional achievement.
• It is often used for extent, coverage, or duration rather than goals or accomplishments.

2. 達成する (たっせいする) – "To Achieve / To Accomplish"

Meaning & Usage

• 達成する means "to achieve" or "to accomplish" a specific goal, target, or objective.
• It implies effort, intention, and success.
• It is commonly used in business, personal achievements, and goal-setting contexts.

Examples:

1. 彼は目標を達成した。
   – "He achieved his goal."
   (Focus: A goal was successfully accomplished.)
2. 売上目標を達成する。
   – "To achieve the sales target."
   (Focus: Business success and intentional effort.)
3. ついに夢を達成した！
   – "I finally achieved my dream!"
   (Focus: A long-term goal accomplished.)
4. プロジェクトは無事に達成された。
   – "The project was successfully completed."
   (Focus: Successful completion of a planned task.)

Key Nuance:

• 達成する always implies success and effort toward a goal.
• It is commonly used with goals (目標), dreams (夢), and milestones (売上目標, 成績, etc.).

3. Summary of Differences

4. When to Use Which?

1. If something naturally reaches a point or extends in range → Use 及ぶ.
   • ✅ 影響が世界中に及ぶ。 (The influence reaches worldwide.)
   • ❌ 影響が世界中に達成する (Wrong – influence is not an "achievement.")
2. If something is an accomplishment through effort → Use 達成する.
   • ✅ 目標を達成する。 (To achieve a goal.)
   • ❌ 目標に及ぶ。 (Wrong – goals are achieved, not just "reached.")

5. Example Sentence Comparison

1. 彼の年収は1000万円に及ぶ。
   – "His annual income reaches 10 million yen." (Just stating the amount, no effort implied.)
2. 彼は年収1000万円を達成した。
   – "He achieved an annual income of 10 million yen." (Implies he worked hard to reach that income.)

6. Conclusion

• 及ぶ is about "reaching" or "extending" naturally (extent, range, or duration).
• 達成する is about achieving something intentionally through effort (goals, dreams, milestones).

If you’re talking about an achievement, use 達成する. If you’re talking about something reaching a level naturally, use 及ぶ!