含む vs. 含んでいる vs. 含まれている


I would like to know if there is a difference in nuance between these four
sentences. I am trying to say oranges are high in vitamin C. These are based
off a sentence I found in Jisho.

> 1.) オレンジはたくさんのビタミンＣを含む。  
>  2.) オレンジはたくさんのビタミンＣを含んでいる。  
>  3.) オレンジにはビタミンＣがたくさん含まれている。  
>  4.) オレンジにはビタミンＣがたくさん含まれる。

Thank you!




First, there is a very subtle difference in nuance between [含]{ふく}んでいる and
含まれている. It is about the amount of focus that the author is placing between
オレンジ and ビタミンC in your sentences.

> 2.) オレンジ **は** たくさんのビタミンＣを **含んで** いる。 "Oranges contain much Vitamin C in
> them."

This sentence would generally place more focus on "oranges" than on "Vitamin
C" unless the larger context proves otherwise. In other words, the sentence is
more about oranges than about Vitamin C. "Oranges" is in fact the subject of
the sentence.

> 3.) オレンジにはビタミンＣ **が** たくさん **含まれて** いる。 "Much Vitamin C is contained in
> oranges."

This sentence would generally be more about Vitamin C than about oranges -- at
least more so than sentence #2. "Vitamin C" is the subject of the sentence.

Now on to 含む and 含まれる. Needless to say, the two sentences:

> 1.) オレンジはたくさんのビタミンＣを含む。
>
> 4.) オレンジにはビタミンＣがたくさん含まれる。

are grammatical. Would native Japanese-speakers say those, then? We **might**
but not nearly as often as we would say them using 含んでいる and 含まれている.

With stative verbs (static verbs?) such as 含む, it is much more natural to use
them in the ～～ている/でいる/れている forms. Sentences #1 and #4 would sound more like
memo-writing for that reason. In speaking, it would be near impossible as it
sounds pretty curt.




First, there is a very subtle difference in nuance between [含]{ふく}んでいる and
含まれている. It is about the amount of focus that the author is placing between
オレンジ and ビタミンC in your sentences.

> 2.) オレンジ **は** たくさんのビタミンＣを **含んで** いる。 "Oranges contain much Vitamin C in
> them."

This sentence would generally place more focus on "oranges" than on "Vitamin
C" unless the larger context proves otherwise. In other words, the sentence is
more about oranges than about Vitamin C. "Oranges" is in fact the subject of
the sentence.

> 3.) オレンジにはビタミンＣ **が** たくさん **含まれて** いる。 "Much Vitamin C is contained in
> oranges."

This sentence would generally be more about Vitamin C than about oranges -- at
least more so than sentence #2. "Vitamin C" is the subject of the sentence.

Now on to 含む and 含まれる. Needless to say, the two sentences:

> 1.) オレンジはたくさんのビタミンＣを含む。
>
> 4.) オレンジにはビタミンＣがたくさん含まれる。

are grammatical. Would native Japanese-speakers say those, then? We **might**
but not nearly as often as we would say them using 含んでいる and 含まれている.

With stative verbs (static verbs?) such as 含む, it is much more natural to use
them in the ～～ている/でいる/れている forms. Sentences #1 and #4 would sound more like
memo-writing for that reason. In speaking, it would be near impossible as it
sounds pretty curt.

