Translation guide
The English word 'bush' can refer to a shrub, a wild area, or be used in idioms. This guide covers the main meanings and their natural Japanese equivalents.
A low, woody plant with many branches, smaller than a tree.
General term for a shrub or bush, often used in gardening or botanical contexts.
An area of wild or uncultivated land, often with bushes and trees, like the Australian outback or African savanna.
Used as a loanword to refer to the Australian or African bush, or similar wild areas.
To avoid talking about the main topic directly.
Literally 'to say in a roundabout way', the most common equivalent.
遠回しに言わないで、本題に入ってください。
Don't beat around the bush; please get to the point.
In English, 'bush' can sometimes mean a wild area, but in Japanese, 森 (mori, forest) or 林 (hayashi, woods) are not interchangeable with ブッシュ. Use ブッシュ only for specific contexts like the Australian outback.
森でハイキングした。
I hiked in the forest.
庭に低木を植えた。
I planted a bush in the garden.
More technical term for shrub, common in written or formal contexts.
この地域には灌木が多い。
There are many bushes in this area.
Refers to a thicket or clump of bushes, emphasizing dense growth.
猫が茂みに隠れた。
The cat hid in the bush.
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like plant names or brand names.
ブルーベリーのブッシュを買った。
I bought a blueberry bush.
彼はアフリカのブッシュでサファリをした。
He went on a safari in the African bush.
Means 'uncivilized land' or 'wilderness', can be used for bushland but sounds somewhat dated or literary.
開拓者たちは未開地に分け入った。
The pioneers ventured into the bush.
Refers to wilderness or wasteland, can imply a barren or wild area, not specifically bushy.
彼は荒野で迷った。
He got lost in the bush.
Means 'not say clearly', a simpler way to express the idea.
彼はいつもはっきり言わない。
He always beats around the bush.
Literally 'blur the point', used when someone intentionally obscures the main issue.
彼は要点をぼかしてばかりだ。
He keeps beating around the bush.