Translation guide
Describes something large, soft, and moving in a swelling or rolling way, like smoke, clouds, steam, or fabric. Japanese uses different words depending on what is billowing and how it moves.
To describe a large mass of smoke, steam, or clouds that rises and expands outward.
Describes smoke, mist, or clouds hanging thickly in the air or rising up and spreading. Often used for smoke filling a room or area.
Smoke billowed throughout the room.
Means to gush or spout out. For smoke or steam, it emphasizes the forceful emergence, like from a chimney or volcano.
Black smoke was billowing from the chimney.
An adverb describing thick, dense smoke or dust rising heavily. Often paired with verbs like 立ち込める or 上がる.
Smoke was billowing up thickly from the fire.
Means to swirl or eddy. Used when smoke or clouds move in a rolling, swirling manner.
The smoke billowed up into the sky, swirling.
Describes smoke or clouds trailing or streaming horizontally in the wind. More gentle and poetic.
Clouds were billowing along the mountainside.
To describe cloth or sails filling with wind and moving in large, rolling waves.
Describes flags, curtains, or clothes flapping or fluttering in the wind. Can imply a billowing motion when the wind is strong.
The curtains were billowing in the wind.
Means to swell or expand. For sails or fabric, it describes the shape when filled with wind.
Literally 'to become pregnant with wind.' A common phrase for sails or fabric catching the wind and swelling.
The sail billowed and the boat moved forward.
Describes something long and thin, like hair or a flag, streaming in the wind. For fabric, it suggests a flowing, billowing motion.
To refer to a billow as a thing: a great swell of smoke, cloud, or fabric.
Means a swell or undulation. Can be used for waves, but also metaphorically for large rolling masses of smoke or cloud.
Billows of smoke covered the sky.
Means a mass or lump. When modified, it can describe a billowing cloud of something.
Means a swirl or vortex. Can describe a billow of smoke or dust that is swirling.
立ち込める focuses on the state of smoke filling an area, while 噴き出す emphasizes the action of smoke forcefully coming out. Use 立ち込める for a room full of smoke; use 噴き出す for smoke erupting from a source.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'billow.' Translating directly as ビローする is not Japanese. Choose the word that matches the specific movement and substance.
帆が風をはらんで大きく膨らんだ。
The sail billowed out, filled with wind.
Her skirt was billowing in the wind.
大きな煙の塊が立ち上った。
A huge billow of smoke rose up.
A billow of dust swirled up.