翻訳する
hon'yaku suru
The Japanese verb for 'to translate' is 翻訳する (hon'yaku suru). Wiktionary also lists 訳す (yakusu).
Meaning: to change spoken words or written text from one language to another (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 翻訳する | hon'yaku suru | |
| 訳す | yakusu | [ja̠kɯ̟sɨ] (narrow) |
翻訳する is used for the act of translating written text, whereas 通訳する is used specifically for oral interpretation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 翻訳する is built from the noun 翻訳, which means 'translation'. This noun is composed of the characters 翻, meaning 'to flip' or 'to turn over' and 訳, meaning 'meaning' or 'interpretation'.
Which one should you use?
翻訳する is the more formal term, typically used when referring to the translation of literature or written documents.
How do you pronounce it?
hon'yaku suru
When do people say it?
If you want to ask someone to translate something, you can say Honyaku shite kudasai to mean 'Please translate'.
Did you know?
- Historically, many early translations of Western texts into Japanese were done by 'translating' them into Classical Chinese first, then into Japanese.
- Japanese has a unique term 翻訳調 to describe a 'translation style', referring to text that sounds unnatural because it mimics the grammar of a foreign language.
- In Japanese, the word 訳 can be used alone to mean 'reason' or 'excuse', as in 訳がある meaning 'there is a reason'.
Examples in context
- 他に翻訳するものがないです。I don't have anything more to translate.This sentence shows how to express having nothing else left to translate using the form 訳す.Tatoeba #10837043 by minekai, translation #2032953 by Eldad
- この文、トムだったらどう訳す？How would you translate this sentence, Tom?This sentence is an example of asking how one would translate something using the form 訳す.Tatoeba #3261362 by tommy_san, translation #3459912 by AlanF_US
- この文って、英語でどう訳すの？How do you translate this sentence in English?This sentence demonstrates how to ask how a sentence is translated into English using the form 訳す.Tatoeba #11582459 by small_snow, translation #9325529 by megamanenm
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a library, a student asks a classmate for help with a book.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの本、英語に翻訳するのを手伝ってくれる？Kono hon, eigo ni hon'yaku suru no o tetsudatte kureru?Can you help me translate this book into English?
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ。でも、少し時間がかかるかもしれないね。Ii yo. Demo, sukoshi jikan ga kakaru kamoshirenai ne.Sure. But it might take a little time.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんなら、上手く翻訳してくれると思って。Himari-san nara, umaku hon'yaku shite kureru to omotte.I thought you would be able to translate it well, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari頑張るね！一緒にやろう。Ganbaru ne! Issho ni yarou.I'll do my best! Let's do it together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “translate” translations and entries 訳す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
