Translation guide
Expresses membership, ownership, or being part of a group, organization, or place. Japanese uses different constructions depending on whether the subject is a person, object, or abstract concept.
To say that someone is a member of a club, team, company, school, etc.
Formal and clear way to state affiliation. Common in professional and academic contexts.
He belongs to the sales department.
Casual and direct. Suitable for clubs, teams, and informal groups.
I belong to the tennis club.
Common in spoken Japanese. Implies joining and being a current member.
I belong to a soccer team.
To indicate that something is owned by or belongs to a person.
Standard way to say something belongs to someone. Use with possessive particle の.
This book belongs to me.
Shortened form of のものだ. Very common in casual speech.
Whose umbrella is that? (Who does that umbrella belong to?)
To say that something is located in or classified under a certain place, category, or system.
Formal and often used for abstract categories, classifications, or domains.
This island belongs to Japan.
Emphasizes being a part of a larger whole. Natural in both speech and writing.
This area belongs to the national park.
To express that someone feels they are accepted or naturally part of a group or place.
Using 属する for a person's membership can sound overly formal or bureaucratic. For clubs and teams, use 所属している or 入っている instead.
I belong to the tennis club.
He really belongs to his new school now.