Translation guide
The English word "bandwidth" has two main uses: a technical meaning in computing/telecommunications, and a metaphorical meaning referring to mental capacity or available time/energy. This guide focuses on the metaphorical use, which is common in business and everyday English but has no direct one-word Japanese equivalent. The technical meaning is also covered.
Expressing that someone has limited or sufficient mental resources, time, or energy to deal with tasks, information, or stress.
I don't have the bandwidth to deal with this right now. · Do you have enough bandwidth to take on another project? · My bandwidth is maxed out this week.
This is the most natural and common way to express the metaphorical sense of "bandwidth." It means having spare capacity, time, or mental/emotional leeway. Often used in negative form to say one doesn't have the bandwidth.
Referring to the maximum amount of data transmitted over an internet connection or network in a given time.
Do not use 帯域幅 (technical bandwidth) to express mental capacity. It will sound like a strange, overly literal translation. Use 余裕 or other phrases instead.
余裕 is very flexible. You can say 余裕がない (no bandwidth), 余裕ができる (gain bandwidth), or 余裕を持って (with bandwidth to spare). It's the safest choice for most metaphorical situations.
Sorry, I don't have the bandwidth to help you with that today.
Casual, spoken
I don't have the bandwidth to start a new project right now.
He's so busy with work that he doesn't have the bandwidth to think about other things.
Literally "hands don't go around," this idiom means being too busy to handle something else. It emphasizes being stretched thin and unable to take on more tasks.
I don't have the bandwidth for that right now.
A loanword from English "capacity," often used in business contexts to refer to one's ability to take on work. It can sound slightly formal or corporate.
I'm at full bandwidth this month.
Means "spare energy" or "reserve strength." It can be used for mental bandwidth but is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech than 余裕.
With all this overtime, I don't have the bandwidth for hobbies.
The standard technical term for bandwidth in computing and telecommunications.
This app consumes a lot of bandwidth.
A less common variant of 帯域幅, sometimes used in technical contexts.
The bandwidth is insufficient.
Literally "communication speed," this is often used in consumer contexts to refer to internet speed, which is related to bandwidth but not exactly the same. It's more about throughput.
The bandwidth is so low that the video keeps buffering.
サーバーの帯域幅を増やす必要がある。
We need to increase our server bandwidth.
Technical context