Translation guide
The activity of staying outdoors in a tent or similar shelter, often for recreation.
I like camping.
Let's go camping.
To go camping as a leisure activity, typically involving tents and nature.
The most common and natural way to say 'camping' as a recreational activity. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'go camping'.
We went camping with the family over the weekend.
I'm thinking of going camping this summer.
Also means 'camping', but less common than キャンプ. Often used in compound words like キャンピングカー (camper van).
Literary or formal term for camping outdoors, often implying a more rugged or military-style bivouac. Not used in everyday conversation.
To stay overnight in a temporary shelter, such as during a hike or emergency.
To sleep outdoors without proper accommodation, like rough sleeping or camping without a tent. Can imply a more basic or unplanned overnight stay.
Some travelers sleep rough at the station.
Literally 'to pitch a tent'. Used when emphasizing the act of setting up a tent for camping.
A place where people live temporarily in tents or other temporary structures, often for a specific purpose.
Also used for organized camps like refugee camps, boot camps, or base camps. Context clarifies the type.
The situation in the refugee camp is serious.
The mountaineering team set up a base camp.
Specifically means 'camp' in the sense of a detention or internment camp. Has negative connotations.
Do not use for recreational camping. This word implies confinement.
野営 (やえい) sounds very formal or military. For normal recreational camping, always use キャンプ.
キャンプ implies a planned, often recreational activity with a tent. 野宿 means sleeping outdoors without proper shelter, sometimes out of necessity.
He slept rough in the park.
My dream is to travel in a camper van.
彼らは山中で野営した。
They camped out in the mountains.
We pitched a tent by the lake and spent the night.
During the war, many people were sent to internment camps.