Translation guide
The English word "brief" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: short in duration, concise in speech or writing, and legal documents. It also includes related expressions for giving instructions or summaries.
Describing something that lasts only a short time.
The most common and general word for 'short' in duration. Can be used for meetings, visits, breaks, etc.
It was a brief meeting.
Let's take a brief break.
Means 'temporary' or 'transient'. Used when emphasizing that something is not permanent.
It's a brief phenomenon.
Literary expression meaning 'a brief moment' or 'fleeting'. Often used in poetic or emotional contexts.
It was a brief happiness.
Using few words; giving information clearly and quickly.
Means 'concise' or 'succinct'. Commonly used for explanations, reports, or statements.
Please give a brief explanation.
Means 'brief' or 'short' in a practical sense, often used when asking someone to be quick. Slightly more casual than 簡潔.
Literally 'to say by pinching/summarizing'. Means to give a brief summary or outline.
Means 'simplified' or 'abbreviated'. Often used for versions of documents or procedures.
A written statement of facts or instructions, especially in legal contexts.
A formal term for a brief or summary document, often used in legal or business settings.
The lawyer prepared a brief.
Loanword from English, used in legal and business contexts. Often refers to a written summary or instructions.
Specifically a legal brief or case summary.
To give someone essential information or instructions, often before they do something.
Means 'to explain in advance'. A natural way to express briefing someone.
I briefed the team before the meeting.
Literally 'to convey the outline'. Used when giving a brief overview.
Loanword for 'briefing', used in business or military contexts.
When using 'brief' as a verb (to give instructions), do not directly translate it as a single Japanese verb. Instead, use phrases like 事前に説明する or 概要を伝える. The loanword ブリーフィングする exists but is less natural in many contexts.
I briefed him on the situation.
短い (mijikai) is for physical or temporal shortness. 簡潔 (kanketsu) is for conciseness in expression. Don't use 短い to describe a speech unless you mean it was literally short in time, not necessarily concise.
His explanation was short, but not concise.
His speech was brief.
手短に話してください。
Please be brief.
To be brief, the plan is canceled.
簡略版の報告書を提出した。
I submitted a brief version of the report.
クライアントにブリーフを送った。
I sent the brief to the client.
Submit a brief to the court.
I briefed the new employee on the job.
There's a briefing tomorrow morning.