Translation guide
The English word "bounce" covers several distinct physical actions and metaphorical uses. This guide breaks them down into practical meanings and shows how to express each naturally in Japanese.
Something hits a surface and springs back (ball, light, sound, etc.)
Intransitive verb for something springing or bouncing back, like a ball or water droplet. Focuses on the upward/rebound motion.
ボールが地面で跳ねた。
The ball bounced on the ground.
Intransitive verb emphasizing rebounding back toward the source, like a ball bouncing off a wall.
ボールが壁に当たって跳ね返った。
The ball hit the wall and bounced back.
Intransitive verb for something bouncing with elasticity, like a rubber ball. Also used for lively conversation or mood.
このボールはよく弾む。
This ball bounces well.
Technical term for light, sound, or waves reflecting/bouncing off a surface.
光が鏡で反射する。
Light bounces off a mirror.
Making a ball or object bounce by throwing, dropping, or hitting it.
Causative form of 跳ねる, meaning to make something bounce. Common for bouncing a ball.
子供がボールを跳ねさせて遊んでいる。
The child is playing by bouncing a ball.
Causative of 弾む, to make something bounce elastically. Often used for dribbling a ball.
バスケットボールを弾ませる。
To bounce a basketball.
Loanword from English 'bound', used in sports contexts to make a ball bounce.
ピッチャーがボールをバウンドさせて投げた。
The pitcher threw the ball so it bounced.
A person or object moves with a springy up-and-down motion, like on a trampoline or while dancing.
Can also describe a person or animal jumping/bouncing lightly and repeatedly.
子供たちがトランポリンで跳ねている。
The kids are bouncing on the trampoline.
Describes a bouncy, springy movement, like a dancer or a lively walk.
彼女は弾むように歩いている。
She is walking with a bounce in her step.
Onomatopoeic phrase for light, repeated bouncing, like a rabbit or a child.
ウサギがピョンピョン跳ねる。
The rabbit bounces around.
A check bounces due to insufficient funds, or a payment fails.
Standard term for a check or bill being dishonored. Literally 'become non-negotiable'.
小切手が不渡りになった。
The check bounced.
Metaphorical use: payment is 'bounced back' or rejected. More casual than 不渡り.
支払いが跳ね返された。
The payment bounced.
To bounce back emotionally, financially, or physically after a difficulty.
General term for recovering or getting back on one's feet after a setback.
彼は失敗からすぐに立ち直った。
He bounced back quickly from the failure.
Means 'revive' or 'come back', often used for comebacks in sports, business, or entertainment.
チームは後半に復活した。
The team bounced back in the second half.
Describing a person, music, or atmosphere that is full of energy and springiness.
Adjectival phrase meaning 'bouncy' or 'springy', used for voices, steps, or music.
弾むような音楽が流れている。
Bouncy music is playing.
Means 'lively' or 'full of energy', often used for people or atmospheres.
彼女はいつも活気がある。
She always has a bounce in her personality.
To bounce ideas off someone, or have a lively exchange.
Standard phrase for exchanging opinions or ideas.
同僚と意見を交換した。
I bounced ideas off my colleague.
Idiom meaning conversation becomes lively and animated. Literally 'talk bounces'.
久しぶりに会って話が弾んだ。
We met after a long time and the conversation bounced along.
An email fails to be delivered and returns an error message.
Literally 'the mail comes back', the most natural way to say an email bounced.
送ったメールが戻ってきた。
The email I sent bounced back.
Loanword from English, used in IT contexts. Understandable but less common than the native phrase.
メールがバウンスした。
The email bounced.
跳ねる focuses on the physical act of springing off a surface, while 弾む emphasizes elasticity and a lively, repeated motion. 跳ねる is used for a single bounce or rebound; 弾む is better for something that bounces repeatedly due to its own elasticity, like a rubber ball, or for metaphorical liveliness.
Do not use 跳ねる or 弾む for a bounced check or email. These require specific financial/IT terms like 不渡り or 戻ってくる.
子供たちはベッドの上で跳ねるのが大好きだ。
The kids love to bounce on the bed.
壁に向かってボールを跳ねさせた。
I bounced the ball against the wall.
彼女は病気からすぐに立ち直った。
She bounced back from her illness quickly.