Translation guide
The English phrase "backing up" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: supporting a claim or person, moving backwards, creating a copy of data, and causing a traffic jam. Each meaning requires different Japanese expressions.
To provide evidence, confirmation, or moral support for someone or something.
Means 'to support (a claim/statement) with evidence'. Commonly used in formal or written contexts.
彼の証言が私の主張を裏付けている。
His testimony is backing up my claim.
General term for 'to support' someone or an organization, often in a moral or practical sense.
私たちは彼の計画を支援している。
We are backing up his plan.
Literally 'to push from behind'; implies giving a boost or encouragement to someone's efforts.
友達が私の挑戦を後押ししてくれた。
My friends backed up my challenge.
To move a vehicle or person in reverse direction.
Common loanword from English 'back', used for vehicles moving in reverse.
車をバックして駐車スペースに入れた。
I backed up the car into the parking space.
Formal term for moving backwards, used for vehicles, troops, or abstract things like economies.
トラックがゆっくり後退した。
The truck backed up slowly.
General verb for stepping back or moving backward; can be used for people or objects.
To make a duplicate of digital files or data for safekeeping.
Standard phrase using the loanword 'backup'. Very common in IT contexts.
重要なファイルは定期的にバックアップを取ってください。
Please back up important files regularly.
Verb form of 'backup'. Slightly more casual than バックアップを取る.
データを外付けハードディスクにバックアップした。
I backed up the data to an external hard disk.
When vehicles accumulate and block a road, often due to an incident.
Standard verb for 'to be congested' (traffic). Used for the state of a traffic jam.
事故で高速道路が渋滞している。
The highway is backed up due to an accident.
More formal phrase meaning 'a traffic jam occurs'. Often used in news reports.
この交差点では夕方になると渋滞が発生する。
Traffic backs up at this intersection in the evening.
Please back up a little.