Translation guide
The English word "bolt" has several distinct meanings: a fastener, a sliding lock, a quick escape, a flash of lightning, a roll of cloth, and a sudden dash. This guide covers the most common and useful Japanese equivalents for each meaning, organized by practical use.
A metal fastener consisting of a threaded pin and a nut, used with a wrench.
The standard loanword for a bolt (fastener). Used in mechanical and everyday contexts.
Please tighten this bolt.
General term for screw or bolt. Often used for smaller fasteners. Can be ambiguous, so ボルト is clearer for bolts specifically.
ねじ can refer to both screws and bolts. Use ボルト when you need to be specific.
The screw/bolt is loose.
A metal bar that slides across to lock a door, gate, or window.
Traditional sliding bolt lock, often a wooden or metal bar. Common for gates and old-style doors.
I bolted the gate.
Kanji form of かんぬき. Rarely used in modern writing; the kana form is preferred.
Loanword for a sliding lock, often used for modern door locks or latches.
Slide the bolt lock on the door.
To run away suddenly, especially to escape from a place or situation.
Literally 'suddenly start running'. Natural way to describe bolting.
The horse bolted.
To run away, flee. Emphasizes escaping from something.
To dash out, start running. Similar to 走り出す but slightly more literary.
A flash of lightning, a sudden discharge of electricity in the sky.
The most common word for a lightning bolt or flash of lightning.
A bolt of lightning flashed.
General term for thunder and lightning. Can refer to the phenomenon or a lightning strike.
Literary or poetic term for a flash of lightning. Less common in daily speech.
A roll or large piece of cloth, typically as it comes from the manufacturer.
A sudden, quick movement forward, often by an animal or person starting to run.
In technical contexts, ボルト is used with a nut (ナット), while ねじ is often a screw that taps its own hole. In everyday language, ねじ can cover both, but ボルト is clearer for bolts.
かんぬき refers to a traditional sliding bar lock. For a modern door chain or slide bolt, スライドロック or ドアチェーン is more appropriate.
The horse bolted.
Slide the bolt across.
A bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
閂をかける。
To bolt the door.
彼は突然逃げ出した。
He bolted suddenly.
子供たちは校庭に駆け出した。
The children bolted out into the schoolyard.
雷が落ちた。
A lightning bolt struck.
A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.
I put the bolt of fabric back on the shelf.
He bolted toward the goal.