Translation guide
The English word 'cast' has many distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: throwing, assigning roles, shaping metal, voting, and more. Each meaning is treated separately with natural Japanese equivalents.
To throw something, especially with force or in a deliberate manner.
General verb for 'throw'. Works for most physical objects.
彼はボールを遠くに投げた。
He cast the ball far away.
More formal/literary. Often used in set phrases like 'cast a vote' or 'cast doubt'.
彼はその計画に疑問を投じた。
He cast doubt on the plan.
Means 'throw' or 'fling', often casually or carelessly. Can also mean 'leave alone'.
彼は本を机の上に放った。
He cast the book onto the desk.
To select actors for specific parts in a performance.
Standard term for 'cast' in the context of assigning roles. Often used as a noun: 配役 (casting).
監督は主役に新人を配役した。
The director cast a newcomer in the lead role.
Loanword from English, commonly used in entertainment industry.
彼女はその映画にキャスティングされた。
She was cast in the movie.
Means 'appoint' or 'select for a role', broader than just acting. Often used for casting someone in a specific position.
彼を主役に起用した。
They cast him as the lead.
To form an object by pouring liquid material into a mold and letting it harden.
Technical term for casting metal. Used in manufacturing.
この像はブロンズで鋳造された。
This statue was cast in bronze.
Verb for 'cast' or 'mint' (metal). Less common than 鋳造する.
刀を鋳る。
Cast a sword.
Descriptive phrase: 'pour into a mold'. Used when explaining the process.
溶けた金属を型に流し込んで部品を作る。
Cast parts by pouring molten metal into molds.
To formally submit a vote in an election.
Standard term for 'vote'. Use with ～に to indicate what you vote for.
彼は大統領選挙で投票した。
He cast his vote in the presidential election.
Literary/formal phrase: 'cast a ballot'. Often used in news.
有権者は貴重な一票を投じた。
The voters cast their precious ballots.
To look or shine something in a specific direction, often briefly.
To cast a glance/look. Natural for 'cast a glance'.
彼女は彼に冷たい視線を向けた。
She cast a cold glance at him.
To cast one's eyes (toward something). Casual.
彼は窓の外に目をやった。
He cast his eyes out the window.
To cast light on something. Can be literal or figurative (shed light on).
月が庭に光を投げかけていた。
The moon cast its light on the garden.
To get rid of something, especially skin, a shell, or an old habit.
To take off (clothes, shoes). For 'cast off clothes', use this.
彼は上着を脱いだ。
He cast off his jacket.
To molt/shed skin (for reptiles, insects). Figuratively, to break out of one's shell.
蛇が脱皮した。
The snake cast its skin.
To cast aside/abandon (habits, doubts, etc.). Stronger than 捨てる.
To draw up a horoscope by calculating planetary positions.
General verb for 'tell fortunes' or 'divine'. For 'cast a horoscope', use 星占いをする or ホロスコープを作成する.
彼女は私の運勢を占ってくれた。
She cast my fortune.
Specifically 'cast a horoscope' in astrological context.
占星術師が私のホロスコープを作成した。
The astrologer cast my horoscope.
To cause something to appear or be created, often in a figurative sense.
Used in set phrases like 'cast a spell' (魔法をかける) or 'cast a shadow' (影を落とす).
魔女が彼に呪いをかけた。
The witch cast a curse on him.
Used for 'cast a shadow' (影を落とす).
The loanword キャスト is mainly used for 'cast' in the sense of actors or sometimes fishing. It does not cover throwing, voting, or shedding. Use the appropriate Japanese verb for each meaning.
投げる is the everyday word for 'throw'. 投じる is formal and used in abstract contexts like 'cast doubt' or 'cast a vote'. Don't use 投じる for throwing a ball.
彼は迷いを捨て去った。
He cast aside his doubts.
The tree cast a long shadow.