Translation guide
A buoy is a floating object anchored in water to mark a location, warn of hazards, or provide mooring. In Japanese, the most common word is ブイ (bui), a loanword from English. Traditional terms like 浮標 (fuhyō) and 浮き (uki) exist but are less common in everyday use.
buoy (general)
A floating object anchored in water to mark a channel, hazard, or location for boats.
The most common and widely understood word for 'buoy' in modern Japanese. Used in maritime contexts, fishing, and everyday conversation.
That red buoy marks the channel.
The buoy has drifted away.
A more technical or formal term for a buoy, often used in official navigation contexts or written materials. Less common in casual speech.
Literally 'float', this can refer to a buoy but is more commonly used for fishing floats or general floating objects. In a maritime context, it may be understood but is less precise than ブイ.
A ring-shaped floating device used to rescue someone from water.
The standard term for a lifebuoy or life ring. Used in safety equipment contexts.
Lifebuoys are equipped on the ship.
Commonly refers to an inflatable ring or swim ring, but can also mean a lifebuoy in casual contexts. Often associated with leisure swimming.
A direct loanword from English 'life buoy'. Recognizable but less common than 救命浮環 in official contexts.
They threw a life buoy and rescued the person.
A buoy used for mooring boats, to which a boat can be tied.
The technical term for a mooring buoy. Used in maritime and boating contexts.
Tie the yacht to the mooring buoy.
Loanword from English 'mooring buoy'. Used among boaters and in some instructional materials.
Several mooring buoys are installed.
For most everyday references to a buoy, ブイ is the safest and most natural choice. It is widely understood and used in conversation, news, and signage.
浮き輪 (ukiwa) often implies a leisure swim ring, while 救命浮環 (kyūmei fukan) is specifically a life-saving device. Use 救命浮環 for safety equipment on boats or at pools.
The installation of the buoy has been completed.
The fisherman used floats to mark the net's position.
子供が浮き輪を持って海に行く。
The child takes a swim ring to the beach.