Translation guide
The English word "capital" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: capital city, uppercase letter, and financial capital. It also touches on less common meanings like "excellent" (British slang) and the architectural term.
Referring to the main city of a country or region, where the government is located.
The standard word for 'capital city'. Used in both formal and informal contexts.
Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
首都を移転する計画があります。
There is a plan to relocate the capital.
A more literary or historical term for 'capital', often used in names like 'Kyoto' (京都). It carries a sense of elegance and tradition.
京都はかつて日本の都でした。
Kyoto was once the capital of Japan.
Referring to a large letter of the alphabet, used at the start of sentences or for proper nouns.
The standard word for 'uppercase letter' or 'capital letter'. Can also be written as 大文字 (だいもんじ) in some contexts, but おおもじ is more common.
文の最初の文字は大文字にしてください。
Please capitalize the first letter of the sentence.
パスワードには大文字と小文字を含めてください。
Please include uppercase and lowercase letters in the password.
A loanword from English, sometimes used in technical or design contexts, but not common in everyday Japanese.
Referring to money or assets used for investment or starting a business.
The standard economic term for 'capital' as in funds or assets. Used in business and economics.
会社を設立するには資本が必要です。
You need capital to establish a company.
資本主義経済では資本の蓄積が重要です。
In a capitalist economy, the accumulation of capital is important.
Refers to 'funds' or 'capital' in a more general sense, often used for money needed for a specific purpose.
Often used for 'seed money' or initial capital to start something, like a business or investment.
Referring to the legal punishment of death for a crime.
The standard term for 'death penalty' or 'capital punishment'. Note that 'capital' here is part of a fixed phrase; the word alone is not used this way in Japanese.
その国では死刑が執行された。
Capital punishment was carried out in that country.
A more formal or literary term for 'capital punishment', literally 'extreme penalty'.
Used informally in British English to mean 'excellent' or 'first-rate'.
The top part of a column or pillar.
The architectural term for the capital of a column.
この柱の柱頭はコリント式です。
The capital of this column is Corinthian.
These are completely different concepts in Japanese. Using the wrong one can cause confusion.
東京は日本の首都です。
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. (city)
会社の資本は１億円です。
The company's capital is 100 million yen. (finance)
このフォントではキャピタルが読みやすい。
In this font, the capitals are easy to read.
We are raising capital for the new project.
You need capital to start a business.
極刑に処せられた。
He was sentenced to capital punishment.