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.
今は新しいプロジェクトを始める余裕がない。
I don't have the bandwidth to start a new project right now.
彼は仕事が忙しくて、他のことを考える余裕がない。
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.
今はそれに手が回らない。
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.
今月はキャパシティがいっぱいです。
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.
残業続きで、趣味に使う余力がない。
With all this overtime, I don't have the bandwidth for hobbies.
The standard technical term for bandwidth in computing and telecommunications.
このアプリは帯域幅を多く消費する。
This app consumes a lot of bandwidth.
A less common variant of 帯域幅, sometimes used in technical contexts.
バンド幅が不足している。
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.
通信速度が遅くて動画が途切れる。
The bandwidth is so low that the video keeps buffering.