Translation guide
The punctuation mark ' used for contractions, possessives, and certain plurals in English. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through grammar and context, not a direct equivalent mark.
Referring to the apostrophe symbol itself in writing or typography.
The standard loanword for the apostrophe symbol. Used in technical or educational contexts.
英語では、アポストロフィーは所有格を表します。
In English, the apostrophe indicates the possessive case.
An alternative loanword, less common than アポストロフィー.
このフォントのアポストロフは見にくい。
The apostrophe in this font is hard to see.
Literally 'single quotation mark'. Sometimes used to refer to the apostrophe shape, but more precisely means single quotes. Technical term.
プログラミングでは、単引用符は文字列に使われます。
In programming, single quotes are used for strings.
Expressing possession or belonging, like 'John's book' or 'the cat's tail'.
The particle の is the standard way to show possession. A is the possessor, B is the possessed item. This covers most English possessive apostrophes.
For some possessive-like relationships, a direct の construction may be unnatural. Instead, describe the relationship with a verb or adjective clause.
彼が昨日買った車
the car he bought yesterday (instead of 'his yesterday-bought car')
Shortened forms like 'don't', 'it's', 'I'm'.
Japanese does not have contractions with apostrophes. Simply use the standard polite or plain form. The nuance of informality can be conveyed through speech style or sentence-ending particles.
In very casual spoken Japanese, sounds may be dropped or merged, similar to English contractions. This is not written with an apostrophe but reflects the same informal feel.
Indicating missing letters, like 'ne'er' or 'o'er'. Rare in modern English.
Japanese does not use apostrophes for omitted sounds in writing. Translate the intended word fully. If the archaic/poetic tone is important, use classical Japanese or poetic diction.
決して
never (poetic 'ne'er')
Forming plurals like 'mind your p's and q's' or 'the 1990's'.
Japanese does not have a direct equivalent. For letters, you can say 'Pの文字' (the letter P) and use context for plurality. For decades, simply say '1990年代'.
Pの文字に気をつけて
be careful with the letter P
1990年代
the 1990s
The word アポストロフィー only refers to the symbol itself. It is not used to form possessives or contractions in Japanese. Use の for possession and full verb forms for contractions.
ジョンの本
John's book