Translation guide
The concept of increasing speed or the rate of change of velocity. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns, verbs, and technical terms depending on context.
Expressing that something is speeding up or the act of increasing speed, in everyday contexts.
The most common noun meaning 'acceleration' or 'speeding up'. Can be used as a suru-verb (加速する) to mean 'to accelerate'.
車が急に加速した。
The car suddenly accelerated.
経済成長の加速が期待されている。
Acceleration of economic growth is expected.
Loanword from English 'speed up'. Used as a noun or suru-verb. Common in business or casual contexts.
作業のスピードアップが必要だ。
We need to speed up the work.
Literally 'to raise speed'. A natural verb phrase for increasing speed.
彼は車の速度を上げた。
He increased the car's speed.
Referring to the scientific concept of acceleration as a vector quantity.
The technical term for 'acceleration' in physics. Often used in compound terms like 加速度運動 (accelerated motion).
加速度はベクトル量である。
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
重力加速度は約9.8 m/s²です。
Gravitational acceleration is about 9.8 m/s².
Describing how fast a car, motorcycle, etc. can increase speed, often in reviews or specs.
Means 'acceleration performance'. Commonly used in automotive contexts.
この車は加速性能が優れている。
This car has excellent acceleration.
Casual way to say 'has good acceleration'.
このバイクは加速がいいね。
This motorcycle has good acceleration, doesn't it?
加速 (kasoku) is the general term for speeding up, while 加速度 (kasokudo) specifically refers to the physical quantity of acceleration. Use 加速 for everyday situations and 加速度 in scientific contexts.
While 加速 is the direct equivalent, in some contexts English uses 'acceleration' where Japanese might use a different expression. For example, 'acceleration of a process' might be 促進 (sokushin) rather than 加速.