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.
marketing campaign
election campaign
military campaign
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.
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.
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.
選挙運動は来月から始まります。
The election campaign starts next month.
We are devising a strategy for the election campaign.
The candidate's campaign focused on economic reform.