Translation guide
The English verb "collect" has several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical uses and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
To accumulate items of a particular type for enjoyment or study.
Transitive verb meaning to gather or collect things. Use this when you actively collect items.
He collects stamps.
Collecting old coins is my hobby.
A more formal term for collecting, often used for systematic or scholarly collections.
He collects works of art.
To bring together things that are spread out, often for a practical purpose.
Transitive verb for gathering things or people. Use when you bring items together.
I collected the fallen leaves and put them in a bag.
Means to pick up or gather items from the ground. Use for collecting scattered objects by hand.
Means to recover or retrieve items, often in an official or systematic way (e.g., recycling, debts).
To gradually gather or build up something, often intangible.
To go and get someone or something from a place.
Means to go to pick up a person. Use for meeting someone at a station, airport, etc.
I'll come to collect you at the station.
Means to take custody of something or someone, often used for picking up items from a shop or a child from school.
Means to receive or collect something that has been sent or left for you, like a package.
To gather money from people for a purpose.
To bring oneself under control after being upset or scattered.
Means to calm oneself down. Often used when you need to collect your thoughts or emotions.
Give me a moment. I need to collect myself.
Literally 'to organize one's thoughts', used when you need to collect your ideas before speaking or writing.
Please collect your thoughts before speaking.
The loanword コレクトする is not commonly used in Japanese. Stick to the native verbs listed above.
集める (あつめる) is transitive (to collect something). 集まる (あつまる) is intransitive (things gather). Make sure to use the correct one.
People gathered.
He gathered people.
We are collecting questionnaires.
子供たちは貝殻を拾った。
The children collected seashells.
The day for collecting waste paper is Wednesday.
ポイントを溜めて景品と交換した。
I collected points and exchanged them for a prize.
Try not to let stress build up.
Literally 'to pile up', used metaphorically for accumulating efforts or achievements.
He succeeded by accumulating efforts.
I went to collect the repaired watch.
郵便局で小包を受け取った。
I collected the parcel at the post office.