Translation guide
A structure where bees live, either natural or man-made. In Japanese, the word depends on whether you mean a natural nest, a man-made hive for beekeeping, or the classic skep shape.
A box or structure provided by humans for honeybees to live in and produce honey.
General term for a beekeeping box or hive. Literally 'beekeeping box'.
We harvested honey from the beehive.
Literally 'nest box'. Commonly used for birdhouses, but also for man-made bee hives, especially in contexts like 'beehive box'.
I keep a beehive in my garden.
Literally 'bee box'. Less common, but understood.
I repaired the old beehive.
A nest built by bees in nature, such as in a tree hollow or on a branch.
The classic rounded beehive made of straw, often seen in illustrations.
Describes a straw beehive. Use this to specify the material and shape.
The picture book shows a straw beehive.
Loanword from English 'skep'. Used in beekeeping contexts.
Some beekeepers still use traditional skeps.
A place full of activity, like a beehive of industry.
Idiom meaning 'a commotion like poking a beehive', used for uproar or chaos.
The announcement caused a beehive of activity in the hall.
Literally 'a place full of energy'. A natural way to describe a bustling place without the bee metaphor.
A tall, rounded women's hairstyle popular in the 1960s.
Loanword directly from English. Used in fashion contexts.
She wore her hair in a beehive.
Literal translation, sometimes used but less common than the loanword.
The beehive hairstyle was popular in the 60s.
蜂の巣 (はちのす) can refer to both bee and wasp nests. If you need to be specific, use 蜜蜂の巣 (みつばちのす) for honeybees or スズメバチの巣 (すずめばちのす) for hornets.
The market is a beehive of activity.