Translation guide
The English word 'ballast' refers to heavy material used to stabilize a ship, aircraft, or vehicle, or metaphorically to something that provides stability. This guide covers the main Japanese equivalents for both literal and figurative uses.
To refer to heavy material placed in a ship, aircraft, or vehicle to improve stability or control.
The most common and direct loanword for 'ballast' in technical and everyday contexts, especially for ships and aircraft.
船はバラストを積んで安定を保った。
The ship carried ballast to maintain stability.
A native Japanese term literally meaning 'bottom cargo', used for ballast in ships. Less common than バラスト but still understood.
底荷として砂利を使った。
They used gravel as ballast.
Specifically 'ballast water', used in maritime contexts.
バラスト水の排出が環境問題になっている。
Discharge of ballast water has become an environmental issue.
To describe a person, idea, or thing that gives emotional, mental, or structural stability.
Literally 'stabilizer', used metaphorically for something that provides emotional or psychological stability.
彼の存在が私の心の安定剤になっている。
His presence is a ballast for my mind.
Means 'support' or 'prop', often used for emotional or moral support that keeps someone steady.
Literally a 'weight' used to hold something down; metaphorically, something that provides stability or prevents excess.
To refer to the crushed stone used as a bed for railway tracks.
The standard term for railway ballast in Japanese.
線路のバラストが沈下している。
The railway ballast is subsiding.
A technical term for 'track bed', which includes the ballast layer. Used in railway engineering.
Directly translating 'ballast' as バラスト in a figurative sense (e.g., 'He is my ballast') sounds unnatural. Use 安定剤 or 支え instead.
彼は私のバラストだ。
He is my ballast. (unnatural)
彼は私の安定剤だ。
He is my stabilizer / ballast. (natural)
家族が私の人生の支えだ。
My family is the ballast of my life.
His opinion served as a ballast in the discussion.
The track bed needs maintenance.