Translation guide
The English word 'campaign' covers organized efforts to achieve a goal, military operations, and political election activities. Japanese uses different words depending on the context.
A planned series of activities aimed at achieving a particular objective, such as promoting a product, raising awareness, or fundraising.
The most common and direct loanword for 'campaign' in marketing, advertising, and promotional contexts. Widely understood.
We will launch a campaign for the new product.
That campaign was a great success.
Used for social movements, awareness campaigns, or drives (e.g., anti-smoking, fundraising). Implies a sustained, often grassroots effort.
A more explicit phrase combining the loanword with 'activity'. Used when you want to emphasize the activities themselves.
A connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of a war.
The organized effort to get a candidate elected to office.
The standard term for an election campaign. Refers to the activities candidates undertake to win votes.
He put all his effort into the election campaign.
A hybrid term using the loanword 'campaign'. Common in media and casual conversation.
We are devising a strategy for the election campaign.
キャンペーン is a loanword used mainly for commercial or promotional campaigns. 運動 implies a social movement or drive, often with a grassroots or sustained effort. For example, a 'sales campaign' is セールキャンペーン, while an 'anti-smoking campaign' is 禁煙運動.
summer sales campaign
environmental protection campaign
While キャンペーン is versatile, it is not used for military operations. Use 作戦 or 軍事行動 instead.
They launched a campaign to raise awareness about recycling.
The general planned the campaign carefully.
The candidate's campaign focused on economic reform.
禁煙運動に参加しています。
I'm participating in an anti-smoking campaign.
Let's start a fundraising campaign.
We will raise awareness through campaign activities.
I'm studying the Pacific campaign.
Literally 'military action', used for broader military campaigns or operations.
The military campaign became protracted.
The election campaign starts next month.