Translation guide
The English word 'agent' covers several distinct meanings. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression depending on whether they mean a business representative, a spy, a chemical agent, or a grammatical agent.
A person or company authorized to act on behalf of another in business, sales, or legal matters.
General term for a person who acts on behalf of another, especially in legal or formal contexts.
彼は会社の代理人として契約にサインした。
He signed the contract as the company's agent.
Refers to an agency or business that acts as an agent, such as a travel agency or insurance agency.
旅行代理店で航空券を予約した。
I booked a flight at a travel agency.
Loanword from English, commonly used in entertainment, sports, or talent agencies. Also used in business contexts.
彼女は有名なタレントのエージェントだ。
She is an agent for a famous celebrity.
An intermediary or broker, often used in real estate or business negotiations.
不動産の仲介人を通して家を買った。
I bought a house through a real estate agent.
A person who secretly collects information for a government or organization.
The most common word for a spy or secret agent.
彼は敵国のスパイとして逮捕された。
He was arrested as an enemy agent.
Refers to an operative or agent engaged in covert activities, often political or military.
A formal term for an intelligence agent, used in military or government contexts.
A substance that produces a chemical or biological effect.
General term for a chemical agent, especially in medical, agricultural, or industrial contexts.
この洗剤には強力な漂白剤が含まれている。
This detergent contains a powerful bleaching agent.
Specifically a biological agent that causes disease, such as a virus or bacteria.
The person or thing that performs the action in a sentence.
Linguistic term for the agent in a sentence. Used in grammar explanations.
受動態では動作主は「によって」で示される。
In the passive voice, the agent is indicated by 'ni yotte'.
While エージェント is understood, it is often more natural to use 代理人 or 代理店 depending on whether you mean a person or an office. Using エージェント for a legal representative may sound overly casual or foreign.
秘密工作員が潜入していた。
A secret agent had infiltrated.
彼は諜報員として長年活動していた。
He worked as an intelligence agent for many years.
Refers to a chemical substance or agent, often in scientific or environmental discussions.
その化学物質は発がん性がある。
That chemical agent is carcinogenic.
This biological agent is highly contagious.