Translation guide
A festival or celebration with parades, costumes, and entertainment, or a traveling amusement show.
A large public festival with parades, costumes, music, and dancing, often before Lent.
Direct loanword for 'carnival' in the sense of a festive celebration, especially associated with Rio or Mardi Gras.
The Rio Carnival is world-famous.
Literally 'thanks-meat festival', a traditional term for carnival, especially in a Christian context. More formal or literary.
During the carnival period, the streets are bustling with people in costumes.
General word for 'festival'. Can be used for carnival-like events, but lacks the specific connotation of a pre-Lenten celebration. Often used for local Japanese festivals.
This festival is held every summer.
A traveling show with rides, games, and entertainment, like a funfair.
Literally 'mobile amusement park'. The most direct term for a traveling carnival with rides and games.
A carnival has come to town.
Also used for traveling amusement shows, though less common than for festivals. Context usually clarifies.
Refers to a fair held at a temple or shrine on a special day, with stalls and games. Similar atmosphere but not traveling.
A situation that is colorful, exciting, or chaotic, like a carnival atmosphere.
Literally 'festival uproar'. Used for a boisterous, carnival-like atmosphere or commotion.
When the victory was decided, the stadium turned into a carnival.
Means 'like a carnival', used to describe a vibrant, festive atmosphere.
The street had a carnival-like atmosphere.
カーニバル specifically refers to a carnival in the Western sense (parades, costumes, often before Lent). 祭り is a broader term for any festival, including traditional Japanese ones. Use カーニバル for Rio-style events, and 祭り for local Japanese festivals.
I want to go to the Rio Carnival.
I danced Bon Odori at the local festival.
Using カーニバル to refer to a traditional Japanese matsuri can sound unnatural. Stick to 祭り for those events.
The carnival parade was spectacular.
We went to the carnival and rode the roller coaster.
子供たちはカーニバルで観覧車に乗った。
The children rode the Ferris wheel at the carnival.
縁日で金魚すくいをした。
I played goldfish scooping at the festival fair.