How to Say Underline in Japanese: Formal and Informal Ways

Hello there! If you’re looking to learn how to say “underline” in Japanese, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways to express this term, and also touch upon regional variations if necessary. Get ready to unravel the secrets of Japanese vocabulary! Let’s get started.

Formal Ways to Say Underline

When it comes to formal expressions, Japanese offers a range of options to convey the meaning of “underline.” Below are some of the most commonly used phrases:

1. アンダーライン (andaarain) – This is a loanword taken from English, quite commonly used in formal settings. It’s pronounced similarly to “underline” and easily understood by Japanese speakers. For example:

この文書では、アンダーラインで重要な点を強調してください。
(Kono bunsho de wa, andaarain de juuyou na ten o kyouchou shite kudasai.)
Please underline the important points in this document.

下線 (kasen) – This term, consisting of the kanji characters for “below” and “line,” is commonly used in formal writing or when referring to underlining in a more literary context. Here’s an example usage:

この文章の重要な部分を下線で示してください。
(Kono bunshou no juuyou na bubun o kasen de shimeshite kudasai.)
Please indicate the important parts of this text by underlining them.

引っ張り線 (hipparisen) – This phrase is a more formal way to express “underline” and is often used in academic or technical contexts, where precision is paramount. An example sentence would be:

卒業論文の引っ張り線は、鮮明で綺麗に引いてください。
(Sotsugyou ronbun no hipparisen wa, senmei de kirei ni hiite kudasai.)
Please underline the thesis statement in your graduation thesis clearly and neatly.

Informal Ways to Say Underline

Now, let’s move on to the more casual and informal ways of expressing “underline” in Japanese. These phrases are commonly used in everyday conversations and informal writing:

1. 下線を引く (kasen o hiku) – This straightforward expression literally means “to draw a line below,” making it a natural choice for informal contexts. For example:

このメモの重要な箇所を下線を引いておいてください。
(Kono memo no juuyou na kasho o kasen o hiite oite kudasai.)
Please underline the important sections in this memo.

線を引く (sen o hiku) – Shorter and more general, this phrase translates simply to “to draw a line” and is used in informal situations when underlining something. For instance:

この部分を線を引いて、目立たせてください。
(Kono bubun o sen o hiite, medatasete kudasai.)
Please underline this part and make it stand out.

Regional Variations

In terms of regional variations, Japanese is generally quite consistent across Japan. However, there are a few dialects that have unique ways of expressing “underline.” Let’s take a look at one example:

下血線 (shimozame-sen) – This phrase is used in the Kagoshima dialect, spoken in the southern region of Japan, and has an interesting twist. It combines the character for “below” (下) with the word for “blood” (血), resulting in a regional variation of “underline.” So, if you ever find yourself in Kagoshima, you might come across this term!

Now that you’ve learned various ways to say “underline” in Japanese, feel free to experiment with these phrases in your language learning journey. Remember to be mindful of the formality and context when using them.

Happy learning and best of luck with your Japanese studies! がんばってください！(Ganbatte kudasai!)