Translation guide
The English word 'canvassing' has two main meanings: going door-to-door to gather support or opinions (often political), and the process of examining or discussing something thoroughly. This guide focuses on the first, more common meaning for learners.
Expressing the act of visiting people's homes to solicit votes, opinions, or support, typically in a political or campaign context.
The most direct and common translation for door-to-door canvassing, especially in political campaigns. It literally means 'house-by-house visiting'.
選挙前に候補者が戸別訪問を行った。
The candidate conducted door-to-door canvassing before the election.
A more colloquial phrase meaning 'to go around house by house'. It's commonly used in everyday conversation to describe canvassing activities.
ボランティアが一軒一軒回って署名を集めた。
Volunteers went door-to-door collecting signatures.
Refers to political campaigning or stumping, often involving traveling to various locations to give speeches. It can include door-to-door canvassing but is broader in scope.
彼は全国を遊説して回った。
He traveled around the country canvassing for support.
Literally 'to go around calling for support'. This phrase explicitly describes the act of canvassing for support, but it's more wordy and less common as a set term.
候補者は街頭で支持を呼びかけて回った。
The candidate went around the streets canvassing for support.
Expressing the act of going to people (often door-to-door or in public) to ask questions for a survey or poll.
Means 'to conduct a hearing survey'. It's a formal and accurate way to describe canvassing for survey purposes.
市場調査のために聞き取り調査を行った。
We conducted door-to-door surveys for market research.
The Japanese word for 'questionnaire' or 'survey'. When combined with verbs like 取る (とる) or 行う (おこなう), it can describe the act of canvassing for survey responses.
街頭でアンケートを取った。
We canvassed people on the street with a questionnaire.
Specifically means 'public opinion poll'. It's used for large-scale canvassing of public opinion, often by media or research organizations.
Expressing the act of carefully examining or discussing an issue, proposal, or idea. This meaning is less frequent in everyday English.
Means 'close examination' or 'scrutiny'. It fits the sense of canvassing an issue thoroughly.
提案を精査する必要がある。
We need to canvass the proposal thoroughly.
A common word for 'consideration' or 'discussion'. It can be used when canvassing options or ideas.
While 'canvass' can mean to examine thoroughly, this usage is rare in modern English. In Japanese, it's better to use specific words like 精査 (せいさ) or 検討 (けんとう) rather than trying to directly translate 'canvassing' in this sense.
戸別訪問 (こべつほうもん) specifically means door-to-door visiting, while 遊説 (ゆうぜい) is broader and includes giving speeches and campaigning in various locations. Use 戸別訪問 when the focus is on visiting individual homes.
新聞社が世論調査を実施した。
The newspaper company conducted a public opinion poll (canvassing).
さまざまな選択肢を検討した。
We canvassed various options.